Friday January 31 2025 – Deputy Minister's Bulletin

erase Organized Crime and Exploitation Prevention Information Series – Significance Quests and Resilience Building

As part of their erase Organized Crime and Exploitation Prevention Information Series, the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (PSSG) is hosting a presentation on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, 10:30 am-12:00 pm PST about the practical applications of Significance Quest Theory and ways to build resilience in youth. Presenter Saed Abu‑Haltam, Manager of Collaborative Public Safety …

Resources to Support Early Learning and Care

The Province of BC, through Perinatal Services BC and Child Health BC, is pleased to offer copies of Baby’s Best Chance and Toddler’s First Steps to StrongStart BC program staff. Early learning and child care leads will receive copies of 2024 editions of these resources for distribution to StrongStart BC contacts. Two copies of each book per …

Substance Use Prevention, Part 2: Mental Health & Decision-Making Information Sessions

In partnership with adolescent clinical psychologist  Dr. Hayley Watson from Open Parachute, the ministry will host three, free virtual sessions for parents, guardians and caregivers that will focus on practical skills you can teach your child and youth (ages 0-19) to prevent substance use and mental health challenges. These sessions will build on a previous presentation, …

Reminder: Renewal for the 2025/2026 Child Care Operating Funding, Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative and Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement

Together, Government and child care providers are reducing fees for families and sustaining child care services in communities throughout British Columbia. Child Care Operating Funding (CCOF) assists providers with the day-to-day costs of running a licensed child care facility. Applications for the 2025/26 CCOF renewal are now open through My ChildCareBC Services. To ensure providers have …

First 1701 Data Collection Using EDX Starts February 7

The first Student Level Data (1701) collection using the new Education Data Exchange (EDX) will start February 7. Visit the EDX Info Hub for a final checklist to ensure your district and individual schools are prepared.

2024/25 Recalculated Funding Allocations

The Ministry of Education and Child Care has posted the 2024/25 recalculated operating grant and Classroom Enhancement Fund allocations, which are based on actual September 27, 2024, enrolment. Please contact Tim Jah, Director, Funding and Financial Accountability Branch, if you have any questions. Districts must prepare, adopt by bylaw and submit an Amended Annual Budget by March …

Cancellation of Teaching Certificates – Check Teacher Status

In line with Section 34 of the Teachers Act, employers are being notified that 18 teaching certificates were cancelled on January 13, 2025, for certificate holders who did not comply with criminal record check requirements. To ensure that the teachers employed at your schools remain certified, please check their status using the Certificate Verification Tool and review the cancellation notice …

Invitation to District Anti-Racism Leads

In collaboration with the Metro Anti-Racism Network, the ministry is hosting an online anti-racism networking session on March 6 from 9:30-11:30 PST for district anti-racism leads to discuss insights, challenges and impacts of on-going anti-racism change in schools. Two anti-racism leads from each district are invited to attend. Please distribute accordingly.   Please RSVP by completing …

Annual Lead in Water Reporting

School districts are required to test for lead content in drinking water in their school facilities to ensure the quality meets established guidelines. Please complete the 2024/25 Testing Lead Content in Drinking Water of School Facilities Report (in the Publications and resources section) then submit your report to the Capital Management Branch by February 28, 2025. Policy and sampling …

Reminder: AED and Naloxone Availability Information Request

The Ministry of Education and Child Care is seeking to better understand the availability of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and Naloxone in BC K-12 public schools. This information is intended for the ministry to better understand what safety tools schools typically have on hand to respond to unexpected health emergencies. A reminder that responses were …