Deputy Minister's Bulletin for Independent Schools archive
Last updated on September 17, 2026September 2026
September 11, 2026
Good morning!
I hope you’ve all had a great, smooth week. With the new school year now underway, I hope the first week provided an opportunity for students, staff and families to reconnect, establish routines and begin the year in a good way.
I want to take a moment to thank you for the guidance and support you provide to your school communities. Your leadership helps students, staff and families navigate all that comes with the start of the year, and I appreciate all that you and your teams do to create the conditions for wellbeing and success.
As we’re getting back into routines at the ministry, we’re endeavoring to send this weekly update on Thursdays so that you can share the information with your teams in a timely manner. Our process still has a few kinks to work through to make this work, and we’re committed to ensuring this happens going forward. Thank you for understanding.
In this DM Bulletin, I am pleased to provide you with the second of three comprehensive weekly packages. This week focuses on mental health and wellness.
This edition of the bulletin includes a number of important information items for your awareness, such as a new phone number for B.C.’s Helpline for Children, the 2026-27 B.C. Graduation Program Handbook of Procedures and policy guide, and a reminder about copyright obligations.
Enjoy your weekend.
Kaye Krishna
Deputy Minister
Ministry of Education and Child Care
Access zones established around K–12 schools
This week, access zones have been established around K–12 schools to help prevent disruptions, protect students and staff, and prohibit people from interfering with safe access to school grounds. Access zones are active within 20 metres (66 feet) of school property on Monday to Friday (other than holidays) from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. and any time during extracurricular school activities provided at the school.
Within the access zone, it is an offence to engage in a range of behaviours that can harm students, staff or parents, or disrupt school programs. If police respond to a call from a school or district, police determine the appropriate response (e.g., tickets or arrest) based on the circumstances.
School staff should continue to follow school safety protocols in the event of an incident or disruption. After an incident has occurred, please share any incidents of protests or disruptive behaviours or activities to info@fisabc.ca and EDUC.IndependentSchoolsOffice@gov.bc.ca.
Access zones were first activated in May 2024 and again in September 2024 and September 2025, under the Safe Access to Schools Act. This Act gives Government the ability to establish access zones around K–12 schools through regulation.
Share with:
- Safe school coordinators
Week 2: Back-to-school package on mental health and wellness
The ministry is pleased to share the second package in its three-week back to school series to support independent schools in creating safe, connected and welcoming school environments.
Building on last week’s focus on school and online safety, this week’s package highlights resources, reminders and updates related to mental health and wellness.
Please share within your school communities as appropriate.
Week 2 back-to-school package: Mental health and wellness
The final package in this series, focused on diversity and inclusion, will be shared next week.
Share with:
- Inclusive education leads
- Safe school coordinators
Newly advertised phone number for B.C.'s Helpline for Children
The Helpline for Children is a confidential, 24/7 service operated by the Ministry of Children and Family Development that provides children and youth with direct, prioritized access to a child welfare worker when they or someone they know are feeling unsafe or being abused.
The Helpline for Children is accessible through two phone numbers, 1-877-631-8282 (fully toll-free and accessible across all telephone carriers and platforms) and 310-1234 (may not work with some carriers or platforms).
Due to the ongoing technical and accessibility challenges with the seven‑digit “310” service, the Ministry of Children and Family Development is no longer referencing “310-1234” in its publications and is instead promoting the existing toll-free number: 1-877-631-8282.
The 310‑1234 number remains active, but print and online materials are being updated with the toll-free number.
Child care providers and partners are encouraged to update online materials to reference the toll-free number 1-877-631-8282 and to incorporate the number into future print materials as they are reprinted.
Share with:
- Child care providers on school grounds
2026-27 Annual Compliance Audit notification
The Compliance Program supports the ministry's efforts to provide accurate funding to boards of education and independent school authorities.
Consistent with past years, funding recoveries are expanded to include full-time equivalents outside of the audit sample where the auditors identify a clear link between audit findings in their sample and those full-time equivalents outside the sample.
The procedures the auditors will use this school year can be found on the 2026-27 Compliance Audit web page. Please share this information with your schools and staff as appropriate.
Ministry staff will be reviewing enrolment and other relevant data to select independent school authorities for this year’s program. This will include a review of past years’ audit reports to identify independent school authorities that may benefit from a follow-up audit. Retention of student attendance records and participation documentation at each Form 1701 data collection reporting period is required to verify the independent school authority’s claim and to assist in the enrolment audit process. The recommended retention documentation for your data team members can be found on the Compliance Program web page.
If your independent school authority is selected, a letter of notification will be sent to the head of schools at least two weeks in advance of the review. There may be modifications to the compliance audit process. Modification specifics will be communicated to independent school authorities that have been selected for audit.
The ministry recognizes the additional effort required of your staff to facilitate this process and thanks you for your cooperation.
Questions? Contact Kalitta Opoku, Compliance Program Lead, at 236-478-2173 or Kalitta.Opoku@gov.bc.ca.
2026-27 B.C. Graduation Program Handbook of Procedures and policy guide now available
The 2026-27 B.C. Graduation Program Handbook of Procedures, B.C. Graduation Program Policy Guide, and Board/Authority Authorized and First Nations Authorized Course Requirements and Procedures Guidebook are now available on the Graduation Information for Administrators web page.
Please see the what’s new sections and review all documents for updates to procedures and policies. French versions of the documents will be available soon.
Questions? Contact EDUC.GradStandards@gov.bc.ca.
Share with:
- Career education leads
- French language leads
- Inclusive education leads
- Indigenous education leads
- International education leads
- Provincial scholarship leads
Reminder: Copyright obligations
As classes start for the 2026-27 school year, please remind staff that all copying must fall within the scope of the fair dealing exception under s. 29 of the Copyright Act. For more information, please refer to the Council of Ministers of Education's Fair Dealing Guidelines.
Share with:
- Directors of instruction
September 4, 2026
Happy Friday!
As students and staff prepare for the start of a new school year, I am pleased to provide you with a number of reminders, actions and items for information to help ensure a successful start to the 2026-27 school year, including the first of three comprehensive back-to-school packages related to welcoming schools. These packages are intended to support school leaders by bringing together important information, resources and updates together in one place.
In addition, this bulletin includes information about a single back-to-school literacy and numeracy package for families, which features a letter from the Minister of Education and Child Care for parents and caregivers of kindergarten to Grade 3 students.
This edition of the Bulletin includes key action items related to reporting employment of certificate holders, verifying certificate status and promoting the Youth Work in Trades Scholarship to eligible apprentices. It also provides information about the new Dual Credit Policy, now in effect.
I appreciate your ongoing commitment to student success and wish you a successful start to the school year.
Kaye Krishna
Deputy Minister
Ministry of Education and Child Care
Report employment of certificate holders: Due October 15
Under section 80 of the Teachers Act, employers are required to report all B.C. certificate holders employed during the past academic year (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026) to the Director of Certification.
Please ensure your report is submitted through the Employers' Area by October 15.
Watch the Employers’ Area overview video
Questions? Email the Teacher Regulation Branch at trb.employers@gov.bc.ca or call 236-455-1872.
Youth Work in Trades Scholarship Portal is open for applications
Career education program leads should encourage trades apprentices to apply for the Youth Work in Trades Scholarship. The online application will be available on the ministry's Career Programs webpage by September 8, 2026.
Apprentices who registered with SkilledTradesBC on or after July 1, 2024, are eligible for the scholarship. Apprentices who registered before July 1, 2024, remain eligible for the Youth Work in Trades Award.
Visit the Youth Work in Trades Scholarship web page for scholarship information.
Eligibility requirements and additional details are available in the Youth Work in Trades Scholarship frequently asked questions document.
Share with:
- Career Education Leads
Reminder: Verify certificate status
Teachers employed by Group 1, 2, and 4 independent schools must hold a valid B.C. teaching certificate. Suspended certificate holders have until October 31, 2026, to pay the annual practice fee and late fee. Otherwise, their certificates will be cancelled.
Check the news and notices section in the Employers' Area for the current list of certificate suspensions. Certificate holders recently employed by independent schools will be flagged. You can also use the Certificate Verification Tool to confirm a certificate holder's certification status.
Anyone with a cancelled certificate must apply for a new teaching certificate before they can teach in B.C. again.
Reminder: Check teaching certificate suspensions for criminal record check non-compliance
On July 10, 2026, 45 teaching certificates were suspended for certificate holders who did not comply with criminal record check requirements. Certificate holders that you employ may be on the list of suspensions. Please visit News & Notices in the Employers’ Area to check the list. You can also use the Certificate Verification Tool to check the status of the certificate holders you employ.
Questions? Email the Teacher Regulation Branch at trb.employers@gov.bc.ca or call 236-455-1872.
Reminder: Check teacher status for 2025 certificate suspensions
In line with Section 34 of the Teachers Act, employers are being notified that 40 teaching certificates were cancelled on August 12, 2026, for certificate holders who did not comply with criminal record check requirements in 2025.
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 available in the Employers’ Area.
Questions? Email the Teacher Regulation Branch at trb.employers@gov.bc.ca or call 236-455-1872.
Week 1: B.C.’s Welcoming Schools and Safety back-to-school package
The ministry is pleased to launch a three-week back to school series to support districts and schools in creating safe, connected and welcoming school environments.
This week’s package introduces B.C.’s Welcoming Schools – a new province-wide strategy focused on strengthening school culture and climate, and highlights resources, reminders, and updates related to school and online safety.
Please share items within your school community as appropriate.
Week 1 back-to-school package: B.C.’s Welcoming Schools and Safety
Additional back to school packages will be shared over the next two weeks, highlighting resources and updates about mental health and wellness as well as diversity and inclusion.
Share with:
- Inclusive education leads
- Mental health leads
- Safe school coordinators
- Sexual orientation and gender identity leads
Back-to-school literacy and numeracy package for families
A back-to-school package is available to help families of kindergarten to Grade 3 students understand their children's learning at school.
The package includes information about early literacy screening and highlights learning in English Language Arts, Français langue seconde and Mathematics. It also provides information about the curriculum and examples of proficient learning.
Principals and vice-principals can share the following letter from the Minister of Education and Child Care with families of kindergarten to Grade 3 students. The letter includes information about the screening, how families can stay informed and ways to support their child’s learning. While not required for independent schools, schools are encouraged to provide early literacy screening.
2026-27 Letter to parents and caregivers of kindergarten to Grade 3 students
The letter includes links to the following resources:
- Early literacy screening information: Parent and caregiver brochure
- Helps parents and caregivers understand early literacy screening, its purpose and how it supports children’s reading development
- The brochure is also available in French: Brochure d'information sur le dépistage précoce de la littératie. Additional languages will be available this fall
- Pathways to Proficiency parent guides
- Guides for parents and caregivers of students in kindergarten to Grade 3 are available, covering language arts and mathematics
- These guides help families understand their child’s learning, the foundational skills they will develop during the school year and what proficient learning may look like by the end of the school year
- All 12 guides are available on the BC Learning Pathways website in English and French
Resources for Français langue première will be added after foundational proficiency work for BC Learning Pathways is completed later this school year.
Questions about literacy screening? Email literacy.supports@gov.bc.ca.
Questions about curriculum and student learning? Email studentlearning@gov.bc.ca.
Share with:
- Directors of instruction
- French language leads
- Inclusive education leads
- Principals and vice-principals
New Dual Credit Policy now in effect
A new Dual Credit Policy is in effect for the 2026-27 school year. Dual credit allows students to take post-secondary courses and earn both post-secondary credit and Grade 12 level elective credit.
The new policy is designed to reduce barriers and provide students with greater flexibility to access post-secondary learning. Key changes include:
- Empowering students to explore post-secondary courses before committing to a post-secondary program or career path
- Enabling students to enrol in dual credit opportunities later in the school year
- Expanding eligibility to Grade 10 students
Leadership will play a critical role in successful implementation by setting strategic direction for career education, fostering partnerships with post-secondary institutions, and ensuring students have access to the guidance and supports needed to succeed in dual credit.
The new policy is available on the ministry's dual credit web page.
A new dual credit guidebook and frequently asked questions will follow at the end of the month, as will an application form for the next dual credit partnership and program building grant opportunity.
Questions after visiting the webpage? Email dualcredit@gov.bc.ca.
Share with:
- Directors of instruction
- Career Education Leads
August 2026
August 27, 2026
Happy Thursday!
I hope you had an opportunity to rest and recharge over the summer. I want to acknowledge that our traditional notion of summer has shifted over recent years to have more focus on the risks and impacts of wildfire season. And this summer’s wildfires had significant, and in some cases devasting, impacts across many of your communities.
As a new school year begins, I want to recognize the important work underway in schools to launch the year in a good way, and that it may be especially hard for those of you who are contending with life-changing events with your staff and families. Thank you for your ongoing leadership and commitment to supporting students and families as they embark on what we all hope will be a very successful year for all learners and staff across B.C.’s independent schools.
In this issue, you'll find important information on certificate suspensions and cancellations, as well as details about an upcoming webinar to help schools prepare for inspections.
Please note that starting this year, the bulletin will be published as a link to a Deputy Minister’s Bulletin – Independent Schools webpage and will be sent out on Thursdays rather than Fridays. While the format may be different, our goal remains the same: to keep schools informed, connected and supported throughout the year.
I look forward to the opportunities and achievements the year ahead will bring.
Enjoy your weekend.
Kaye Krishna
Deputy Minister
Ministry of Education and Child Care
Certificate suspensions for fee non-payment
On July 1, 2026, the teaching certificates of 3,910 certificate holders were suspended because their 2026-27 annual practice fee was not paid by June 30, 2026. Please visit News & Notices in the Employers’ Area to review the list of suspensions. Certificate holders recently employed by you will be flagged. Ensure certificate holders pay the annual practice fee so that they can teach this fall.
Questions? Email the Teacher Regulation Branch at trb.employers@gov.bc.ca or call 236-455-1872.
Certificate suspensions for criminal record check non-compliance: Check teacher status
On July 10, 2026, 45 teaching certificates were suspended for certificate holders who did not comply with criminal record check requirements in 2026. On August 12, 2026, 40 teaching certificates were cancelled because the certificate holders did not meet the 2025 criminal record check requirements.
Please use the Certificate Verification Tool to confirm that teachers employed at your schools remain certified. You can review the cancellation notice in the Employers' Area.
Questions? Email the Teacher Regulation Branch at trb.employers@gov.bc.ca or call 236-455-1872.
Register for inspection preparation webinars
Inspection preparation webinars for schools undergoing inspections or for new principals wanting to understand B.C. ministry requirements will again be offered at end of summer/this fall:
- Session A - August 28 at 9 a.m.
- Session B – September 9 at 1 p.m.
Register for sessions by providing the names and emails of attendees, along with the desired session to independentschoolinspections@gov.bc.ca. An email link to the selected session will be sent out to registrants.
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:
- David Joseph Lamb, whose certificate was cancelled
- Jeffrey Allan Jennens, whose certificate was cancelled and who agreed to a 5-year ban on reapplying or being issued any authorization to teach in the K-12 education system
- Robert Kyle Ledingham, who agreed to a lifetime ban on reapplying or being issued any authorization to teach in the K-12 education system