“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Dr. Seuss

Advocacy in Action Jen Mezei, President Karen Nordquist, Director

What is BCCPAC? BCCPAC is the provincial voice of parents in regards to educational issues within the public education system. The purposes of BCCPAC are: to promote, support and advance meaningful parent participation throughout the public education system in order to advocate for the success of all students; and through our membership, to promote leadership, communication, cooperation, and representation in British Columbia at the school, school district and provincial levels. Mission Statement: As the provincially mandated voice of parents in public schools, we engage, empower and support parents for the success of all learners through collaboration, partnership and education, in a culture of acceptance, inclusion and equity. Vision Statement: Each learner in public education in our province has the opportunity and support to thrive, and reach their full potential, in a diverse learning community of inclusion and equity. Our purposes as stated in the BCCPAC constitution

Our Guiding Principles Collaboration Diversity & Inclusion Accountability

Who do we represent? BCCPAC membership is made of dedicated parent organizations – PACs (635) and DPACs (53) - from 55 of 60 districts representing diverse communities including rural, remote and inner-city schools. Our DPAC members represent 96% of parents in the public education system. Strong parent conviction that is reflected in an extensive statement of member resolutions

ADVOCACY 2017-18 BCCPAC Advocacy in Action Self Advocacy Support Resources & Training for Individual Parents Survey for Parents of Special Needs Children who are not Receiving a Full Day at School Presentation to Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services DPAC Summit- MoE Spring Parent Engagement Conference – MoE, Rick Hansen, Ivan Coyote Regular meetings with the Minister of Education, Deputy Minister of Education and Assistant Deputy Ministers Presentations to partner groups

Advocacy is speaking up in support of yourself or others. Parents as Natural Advocates Advocacy is speaking up in support of yourself or others. Parents are their child’s natural advocate, making sure their child’s rights, needs and opinions are respected. Parents can also help make sure decisions affecting their child are made fairly. Advocacy is about finding a successful solution for the benefit of the child

BCCPAC Supporting Parents Most of the advocacy calls BCCPAC receives are from parents of children with learning differences. BCCPAC directly assists parents in navigating their districts’ processes and policies

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD Learn how the school and/or school district deals with concerns and complaints School Code of Conduct School handbook School District policies and processes Communication Protocol

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD Learning Assistance Learning Resource SD 43 Policies & Documents (to access any of the resources listed below >right click on it then Open Hyperlink) Learning Assistance Learning Resource Adaptations & Modifications at a Glance Resolution of Student or Parent School Concerns Policy 13 – Appeals Regarding Student Matters Learning Assistance Services Include: Collaborative Planning and Coordination Instruction Consultation Assessment Access to Learning Assistance Services Each school should establish procedures for teachers, students and parents to access learning assistance services. Schools should decide the focus for learning assistance services considering the student needs and other school-based supports. Service Delivery Models The Ministry suggests that schools may "combine learning assistance with other special education services, provided that the supports available to the students served are consistent with guidelines and appropriate to the needs of the students."

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD What issues and outcomes do you want addressed? Preparing for a meeting What issues and outcomes do you want addressed? Do you need someone with you? Be open-minded about coming to solution

Resource: BCCASE – Meaningful Consultation

GENERAL RULE OF THUMB Solution! It didn’t Work It Worked! Identify the complaint School Principal or Immediate supervisor If no solution then First contact should be with the person you have a complaint with, verbally or in writing The Superintendent Work towards a resolution together If no solution then Set up meeting to respectfully address the complaint. District Appeal process Make a plan for a successful resolution It didn’t Work It Worked! Solution!

You are not Alone

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD Will my child be targeted or otherwise singled-out if I raise a concern? Remain solution based and leave personalities out of it.

WHEN YOU NEED SUPPORT advocacy@bccpac.bc.ca You are not alone… I don’t understand I didn’t know this was going to happen I feel I’m in over my head advocacy@bccpac.bc.ca You are not alone…

APPEALS PROCESS The issue with the Appeals process is that everyone sees it through a different set of eyes. Some educators will be going to meetings on this, receiving binders of information and having people come to the District giving them oodles of information which can be used to make the process overwhelming. CLICK

Thank You

Do Not Apologize

Document Everything

CLICK

COMMON APPEALS PROCESS FOR THE RESOLUTION OF CONCERNS Step One is meeting with the employee (initial contact) Step Two is meeting with the principal or supervisor (facilitated contact) Step Three is meeting with the associate superintendent/director (district contract) Step Four is meeting with the superintendent Step Five is meeting with the school board Step Six is Section 11 Appeal/Ombudsperson

THE APPEALS PROCESS The best way for school districts to handle the Appeals Process is to put measures in place to ensure that it is never used.

THE APPEALS PROCESS The following decisions shall be deemed to significantly affect the education, health or safety of a student: Disciplinary suspension from school for a period in excess of five (5) consecutive days; Suspension from school for a health condition; Placement in an educational program (this does not refer to classroom or teacher preference); Grade promotion or graduation; Refusal to offer an educational program to a non-graduated student sixteen (16) years of age or older; and Any other decision that significantly impacts the present or future educational program of the student.

b) Their child’s educational program (or class). THE APPEALS PROCESS However, it is often only… That their child might not be able to attend school on a full time basis; or b) Their child’s educational program (or class). ….. that causes parents to launch an appeal.

It’s Mr. Smith, Jimmy’s teacher It’s Mr. Smith, Jimmy’s teacher. He wants to know why Jimmy is still attending school even though he had an incident yesterday.

Students Being Sent Home In most districts, it is only the Board of School Trustees that can suspend a student for greater than 5 days. Anything greater than 5 days is deemed to significantly affect the education of a student. Yet, in almost all school districts, it is the principal who determines the length of time in a school day that a child with special needs can attend.

“What is the meaning of fairness?”

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Dr. Seuss

Thank you! www.bccpac.bc.ca advocacy@bccpac.bc.ca