From February to April 2022, 39 British Columbia Teachers' Federation (BCTF) members who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) participated in the Policing in Schools Project. They discussed their experiences and perspectives on police in schools and shared their visions for creating and sustaining safe, healthy, and equitable…

Over the past several months, news headlines have been filled with stories that illustrate the realities of an underfunded public education system. All across British Columbia (BC), school districts are facing "tough budget decisions" and gaping budget shortfalls. BC continues to fall behind other provinces in funding. Funding for…

British Columbia (BC) has experienced a significant teacher shortage for years. While every region of the province is impacted, rural and remote communities have experienced a worsening shortage especially during the pandemic. Additionally, there is a critical shortage of specialist teachers across the province. This Education Brief outlines five…

Research has demonstrated the importance of schools for child well-being, and teachers across the province are working hard to meet the needs of all students in their classrooms. However, school communities are threatened where key health and safety measures are still not in place to protect against the risks of COVID-19. Almost 9 in 10 public…

Over the last year and a half, British Columbians (BC) have worked together to decrease the spread and reduce exposure to COVID-19. BC teachers have risen to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as it has taken its toll. Teachers are on the front-line of witnessing what is needed to move BC from a crisis response to a longer-term--and…

Among the social issues exposed by COVID-19, the mental health concerns of Canada's teachers have intensified. A recent national survey conducted by the Canadian Teachers' Federation in October 2020 found almost 70% of respondents were concerned about their mental health and well-being seven months into this national public health emergency.…

Among the inequities that have been exposed and amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, access to affordable and healthy food is increasingly a crisis for many students and their families. To explore food security from the perspective of teachers, the British Columbia Teachers' Federation (BCTF) held a virtual Think Tank in Fall 2020. As a social…

In this brief, the British Columbia Teachers' Federation (BCTF) welcomes new Minister of Education, the Honourable Jennifer Whiteside. The purpose of the brief is to provide context and recommendations for action on key issues of concern in the BC public education system. It brings together in one place many of the BCTF's concerns and proposals…

Over the past ten years, the landscape of inclusive education in British Columbia (BC), Canada, has shifted in complex and often contradictory ways. Changes include: revisions to the Ministry's Special Education Manual (BC Ministry of Education, 2016b); the ongoing development of a re-designed curriculum (BC Ministry of Education, 2015); the…

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended life for students, teachers and everyone connected to public schools. The crisis has also exposed the fragilities of the economy in meeting the basic needs of all and highlighted the importance of the public sector, of community, and of care work. Schools are key public spaces of community and care. They must be…

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended public education systems around the world. Schools are shut, children are at home, and teachers and parents are anxiously waiting for what comes next. In British Columbia, trustees in many school districts are also considering budget cuts for the 2020-21 school year in advance of an expected and precipitous drop…

British Columbia's review of the funding model for public education has produced a flawed result via a flawed process. The only reasonable next step is for the government to immediately halt the implementation of a new funding model and return to the drawing board. Consultation with education system stakeholders has ended without the Ministry of…

This Education Facts looks at poverty and vulnerable groups in British Columbia (BC). The following statistics are highlighted: (1) Over one in five children in BC live in poverty; (2) Vulnerable groups are significantly more likely to be living in poverty in BC; (3) Teachers report that the proportion of students at school experiencing…

The British Columbia Teachers' Federation (BCTF) represents 43,000 teachers and associated professionals in public schools across BC. We are committed to the inclusion of all students in BC's public schools, believing that every student can learn, and every student is entitled to an appropriate education and full range of education services in…

The Report of the Funding Model Review Panel claims to be about "Improving Equity and Accountability." It fails on both counts. The Panel's recommendations offer neither a blueprint for equity for students nor one for accountability by the province and school districts in providing services to students. If the funding model is to meet…