Flexibility and Choice

BC’s Education Plan will mean more choice for students and families with respect to how, when and where learning takes place. Boards of education will also have more flexibility to organize classes and other learning experiences so they can better direct resources to support student learning. Districts will also have more flexibility to vary the school calendar to better meet their students' needs. Students will continue to create blended learning opportunities through online learning and class-based environments. Enrolment in online courses has grown by more than 500% in the last five years.

Action Items
  • Boards of education will be able to set their own school calendars to better meet the needs of their community.
  • Parents and students will still have choice and opportunity to decide which school their child attends within the public and independent school systems.
  • We will create better opportunities for parents to engage in their child’s learning with more flexibility and choice with respect to what, how, when and where their child learns.
  • We will expand our current learning credential program to better recognize learning that takes place outside of the classroom – like arts, sports, science and leadership programs – so that students are fairly acknowledged for this work.
Initiatives

Flexibility and Choice on what, how, when and where students learn

Topic Description

Provide the relevant information parents, students and educators need to make informed decisions on student learning.

Actions Being Taken

  • Work with the education sector to ensure that educators, parents and students have the skills and abilities to use data and information to inform decision making about what, how, when and where students learn;
  • Hold Data Code-a-thons to engage youth in sharing information, creating knowledge and demonstrating the possibilities that exist through open data;
  • Work with the education sector to consider approaches for accountability that enables improvement so that all students are capable of graduating with the skills and competencies required to participate actively in society.

Progress to Date

  • Worked with BCPVPA & Student Voice to hold a Data Code-A-Thon to engage youth in sharing information and possibilities through open data.
  • Bill 36, the School Amendment Act 2012, gives students and families increased choice in educational programs by extending the ability to take a mix of online and traditional school courses to students in kindergarten through Grade 9.
  • Bill 36, revisions to the Standard School Calendar in the School Act to enable boards of education and education authorities to offer more creative scheduling options that better meet the needs of their students.
  • Bill 36 also eliminated the standard school calendar set by government. Beginning in the 2013-14 school year every school board will now create its own calendar. This will allow boards to better meet the unique needs of their students and communities. Check the links below for more information:
Updated November 2012

Timeline

Actions will take place over one year.

Improved Parent Engagement

Topic Description

Improve opportunities for all families to engage in their child's learning.The Parent Engagement Strategy is an evolving document designed to build capacity with and opportunities for parents and families to be engaged in their child’s education.

Actions Being Taken

  • Engage with families to find out what supports they need and how they want to be engaged.
  • To develop a parent engagement strategy with key stakeholders to help support families be engaged in their child's learning.
  • Implement Year 1 of Parent Engagement Strategy; the strategy is iterative and will continue to evolve throughout the year.

Progress to Date

  • Research and focus groups with networks of parents, and BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Council Executive (BCCPAC).
  • Collaboration with key stakeholders on the development of a draft parent engagement strategy.
  • Presented outline of the strategy at the BCCPAC meeting on May 25 to help develop recommended actions.
  • Share plan and responsibilities with stakeholders to help build champions at the local, district and provincial levels.

Timeline

By October 2012 - implementation phase of the plan. The Parent Engagement strategy is an iterative document and that will continue to evolve and take shape over the next three years.

Last updated: July 2012

Expanding Learning Credential Program

Topic Description

Acknowledging and giving credit for learning that takes place outside the classroom.

Actions Being Taken

  • Review current policy with educators, parents and the public.
  • Develop options for considerations.

Timeline

1 year process