Bd - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 17, 2003

Providing a First Rate |
ducation System

Some facts on how B.C’s education system Is
changing to improve student achievement

Involving Parents

e Parents are now part

of newly-created school
planning councils that,
ensure students’ needs are
identified and clear goals

are set for improvement.

* Parents’ rights to volunteer
at their children’s school are

now guaranteed in legislation.

* New satisfaction surveys allow parents
to provide input and feedback regarding —

the school system.

Providing More Choices |

* Starting in September, new open school .
boundaries will provide students and
i parents the freedom to choose any school

in the province, provided space is available.

¢ The new graduation program will allow
more courses to count toward graduation —
including more innovative, locally-

developed courses.

For more information on changes to B.C’s education system, visit www.bced.gov.be.ca.

Improving Student

Achievement

¢ For the first time ever, class

size limits for Kindergarten to

a: Grade 3, and district-wide class

size averages for Grades 4
through 12, have been

- enshrined in legislation.

_ © New graduation requirements
> will help to increase student
achievement and prepare students

~~ for life after high school.

e The new teacher supervision program is training

principals to support teachers better.

.

Increasing Accountability

~ @ Education is now an essential service while

teachers continue to have the right to engage > -

in free collective bargaining.

* New legislation will allow parents to file written . |

complaints about a teacher’s conduct directly

| with the college of teachers, and the college will

woe report annually on teacher competence.

: e New accountability agreements and district
reviews are helping districts to develop plans

-. to improve student achievement.

Ministry of Education eA CBRITSH

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