Ministry of Education BCSTA Provincial Council Meeting Saturday, October 21, 2006 “The Highway Ahead” Emery Dosdall, Deputy Minister

Heading Down the Highway… Thank You!

From The Throne Speech “The transformational force of knowledge and technology is reinventing our world. The new world is truly a global economy, driven by information, ideas, and discoveries. It is a creative economy, where art and culture are the building blocks of innovation, invention, and understanding. Your government wants to unleash the talent, creativity, and skills of all who live here. Education is the key to that endeavour.” “The transformational force of knowledge and technology is reinventing our world. The new world is truly a global economy, driven by information, ideas, and discoveries. It is a creative economy, where art and culture are the building blocks of innovation, invention, and understanding. Your government wants to unleash the talent, creativity, and skills of all who live here. Education is the key to that endeavour.”

Government will deliver on Throne Speech and platform commitments to support improved student achievement. Consult  Premier and Minister visiting 60 school districts  Continuing the Learning Roundtable  Hosting first annual Teachers’ Congress  Hosting first annual Students’ Congress Support Skilled Trades  Expand programs in trades training and apprenticeships. Support Rural Students  Launching the Virtual School  Hosting a Rural Education Conference Enhance Parental Involvement  Creating a Parent Education Network  Hosting a Parent Congress Modernize Curriculum  Better reflect British Columbia’s history, Aboriginal cultures, resource industries and emerging economic trends. Healthy Schools  Expand Action Schools Program  Increase physical activity Legislative Commitments  Teacher Registry Existing Commitments

Great Goals “ Making British Columbia the best-educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent”. “ Making British Columbia the best-educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent”.

BC has over a million functionally illiterate adults. Literacy

Literacy is the answer to a prosperous economy. Literacy

Olympic Fever - The Games Have Begun! Economic Growth: CanadaBritish Columbia %3.4% %3.4% Construction Costs: 55% increase in the past two years. Construction Costs: 55% increase in the past two years. Annual Funding Grant (AFG) Focus on Skilled Labour and Trades Training. Annual Funding Grant (AFG) Focus on Skilled Labour and Trades Training.

Achievement is Good, but Stalled Increased Student Achievement Increased Accountability for Results Increased School Board Autonomy Increased Choice Increased Involvement of Parents 2001 Grad rate up, but stalled

Every Child Counts Enough to fill BC Place Enough to fill BC Place

Not Ready for Kindergarten In September, an estimated 8,800 children started school without the basic skills needed to succeed. In September, an estimated 8,800 children started school without the basic skills needed to succeed.

Public Confidence British Columbia ranks lowest in Canada for parent satisfaction. British Columbia ranks lowest in Canada for parent satisfaction.

Our Children’s Health Overweight Obese % 6.6% 19.8% 9.9%

The World is Changing British Columbia’s education advantage is threatened. China:  The illiteracy rate among young and middle- aged Chinese citizens is less than 7% and improving. India:  Each year, India graduates 215,000 engineers, computer scientist and information technology specialists. British Columbia’s education advantage is threatened. China:  The illiteracy rate among young and middle- aged Chinese citizens is less than 7% and improving. India:  Each year, India graduates 215,000 engineers, computer scientist and information technology specialists.

The Challenge As a result, rural students may be denied important educational choices enjoyed by students in urban centres. Classroom-based education does not provide, in itself, sufficient flexibility to meet the learning needs of all BC students. Schools in rural communities may have great difficulty offering a range of courses. Distributed Learning: The Challenge

A Time of Transition… Distributed Learning: A Time of Transition

New options for learning accessible from school or home Full range of courses enabling students to construct high quality, relevant programs of instruction open for learning at any time, at any pace, and from any place Free on-line tutoring for secondary students From the Throne Speech The Virtual School

A progressive management style that:  encourages collaborative decision making  moves more decisions about resource utilization to the school level  focuses on student achievement A progressive management style that:  encourages collaborative decision making  moves more decisions about resource utilization to the school level  focuses on student achievement Student Centered Leadership

Commitments Early Learning Centres  14 pilots  Contracts with Boards Community Literacy  Success of Literacy Now  Focus on Reading Libraries  Every Child A Card  Virtual Reference – Ask Away

Commitments Healthy Schools  No Junk Food  Action Schools  Physical Fitness Safe Schools  Substance Abuse Trades Training  Shortage of Skilled Labour  Dual Credit  Apprenticeship Programs

32 of 60 Superintendents have been in their current positions for less than 15 months. It is projected that close to 1,000 principals and vice principals may retire over the next five years. Government established the British Columbia Education Leadership Council, a not-for-profit society, in March 2005 and provided a $5M grant. 32 of 60 Superintendents have been in their current positions for less than 15 months. It is projected that close to 1,000 principals and vice principals may retire over the next five years. Government established the British Columbia Education Leadership Council, a not-for-profit society, in March 2005 and provided a $5M grant. Leadership and Succession

BCELC holds its resources in trust on behalf of the entire public education system to prepare leaders for roles in districts and schools. To this point over 250 new and aspiring leaders have benefited from two programs sponsored by BCELC:  CSML – a graduate certificate program in school leadership developed in partnership with UVIC.  A Seminar Series – 12 days of cohort based activity in topics related to school leadership. BCELC holds its resources in trust on behalf of the entire public education system to prepare leaders for roles in districts and schools. To this point over 250 new and aspiring leaders have benefited from two programs sponsored by BCELC:  CSML – a graduate certificate program in school leadership developed in partnership with UVIC.  A Seminar Series – 12 days of cohort based activity in topics related to school leadership. Leadership and Succession

But…BCELC needs your support and attention.  Support for development of your leaders.  Sharing of district resources in leadership development.  Funding to supplement the finite resources of BCELC. Think about this - $2 per student would provide a revenue stream of over $1M per year to support leadership development to assist all districts. But…BCELC needs your support and attention.  Support for development of your leaders.  Sharing of district resources in leadership development.  Funding to supplement the finite resources of BCELC. Think about this - $2 per student would provide a revenue stream of over $1M per year to support leadership development to assist all districts. Leadership and Succession

Potholes on the Highway Ahead Learning and Working Conditions  Learning Roundtable  Bill 33  School Fees  Graduation Portfolio  Hibbins Report  Litigation - Hewko Fall Data Collection Teacher involvement in SPCs and the development of school improvement plans

The Highway Ahead Questions?