Deputy Minister's Bulletin for Independent Schools
Last updated on September 24, 2026
September 24, 2026 Edition
Good afternoon,
On Tuesday, a provincial general election was called, which places the BC Public Service into caretaker mode until a new government is sworn in, which will take place some time after the Writs are returned on November 18.
During this interregnum period, government activities and engagement are limited, focusing on core services and operations. We will continue to send you the Deputy Minister's Bulletin, providing operational and regulatory updates relevant to independent schools.
This week there is one action item on updating student data and sharing scholarship opportunities with students. I also want to highlight a new regulatory and official notices section in the bulletin that will bring together important ministry notices, and regulatory updates for independent schools.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day falls on Wednesday, September 30, this year. Please see below for half-masting instructions from the Office of Protocol. I encourage you to take time to honour Survivors of residential schools, remember the children who never returned home and reflect on the role we play in advancing reconciliation in our schools, communities and province.
Thank you for your time.
Kaye Krishna
Deputy Minister
Ministry of Education and Child Care
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Scholarships: Update student records and share scholarship opportunities
The Ministry of Education and Child Care provides more than 13,500 scholarships each year and schools play an important role in helping students receive them. At this time of year, there are important steps to take for both recent graduates and students who will graduate soon.
For recent graduates, please make sure student records are complete and accurate. Under the Provincial Scholarships Program Policy, students have until August 31 of their graduating year to meet scholarship requirements. The ministry uses information provided by schools to determine eligibility. Final marks for summer courses and all other student information, including citizenship or permanent residency status, should now be up to date. Reporting resources are available on the graduation records and achievement data information web page.
For upcoming graduates, please use the following resources to start conversations with students about scholarships and their broader post-secondary and career plans.
- Provincial Scholarships Program infographic
- BC Achievement Scholarship
- District/Authority Scholarships
- BC Excellence Scholarships
- Pathway to Teacher Education Scholarship
While the Provincial Scholarships Program will benefit one in four graduates, all students benefit from conversations about transition to post-secondary study and careers.
Citizenship and permanent residency status information
Canadian citizens and permanent residents must be reported with a “C” indicator in school demographic (.DEM) file submissions to the Education Data Exchange (EDX) Graduation. Schools should confirm that citizenship and residency information for recent Grade 12 graduates has been entered correctly and successfully reported to the ministry. This can be checked by reviewing student Transcript Verification Reports on EDX Graduation. Only students with a “C” indicator are eligible for scholarships. Students with any other indicator or no indicator are not eligible.
BC Achievement Scholarship information
The BC Achievement Scholarship recognizes graduates with the highest academic achievement in the province. Eligibility is based on the Grade 10 to Grade 12 courses used to meet graduation requirements, including electives. These courses are identified on a student’s transcript. Because course selections are different for each student, scholarship results are not based on a standard grade point average.
Share with:
- Provincial scholarships leads
- Career education leads
Due October 15, 2026: Reporting employment of your certificate holders
Under section 80 of the Teachers Act, employers are required to make a report to the Director of Certification on all B.C. certificate holders who were employed during the past academic year (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026). Please ensure your report is submitted through the Employers’ Area by October 15.
View the video that gives an overview of the Employers’ Area.
Questions? Email the Teacher Regulation Branch at trb.employers@gov.bc.ca or call 236-455-1872.
Discipline outcomes
Discipline outcomes are posted to enhance the transparency of the processes and decisions made with respect to complaints and reports about educators.
Recently, disciplinary outcomes were posted regarding:
- Kurtis Michael Joshnston Raue, whose certificate was suspended for two days
- Another teacher whose certificate was suspended for one day and whose outcome has been anonymized to protect the identity of students who were harmed, abused, or exploited by the teacher.
Half-masting notice: Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day
Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day in Canada is observed annually on the last Sunday of September to honor officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
On Sunday, September 27, the Canadian flag at all British Columbia government buildings and establishments across the province should be flown at half-mast.
Where a Canadian flag and a British Columbia flag fly near to one other, both flags should be lowered to half-mast.
As September 27 is on a weekend, if there are no maintenance staff working that day it is acceptable to lower flags to half-mast at the end of the day on Friday and return them to full mast on Monday morning.
The direction of the Province on half-masting protocols is provided in case independent schools wish to follow a similar approach; however, independent school authorities have the autonomy to follow their own policies with regard to flags.
Half-masting notice: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is observed annually on September 30 to commemorate the history and ongoing trauma caused by residential schools and to honor those who were lost and the survivors, families and communities who continue to grieve.
On Wednesday, September 30, the Canadian flag at all British Columbia government buildings and establishments across the Province should be flown at half-mast. Flags on all Government of Canada buildings and establishments across the country, including the Peace Tower in Ottawa, will also be flown at half-mast.
Where a Canadian flag and a British Columbia flag fly near to one other, both flags should be lowered to half-mast.
The direction of the Province on half-masting protocols is provided in case independent schools wish to follow a similar approach; however, independent school authorities have the autonomy to follow their own policies with regard to flags.