BC Guide for Independent SchoolsBack to Table of ContentsINDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRIBUTED LEARNING (DL) PROGRAMIndependent Schools Offering DL Programs as at September 2006 This section includes:
Distributed Learning – A Method of Instruction
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Students registered as home schoolers:
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Enrolling in a Distributed Learning Program 
Students wishing to be enrolled in DL programs offered by independent school authorities may do so directly through the independent DL school.
Funding for Distributed Learning 
Funding for eligible students enrolled in a Group 1 or 2 independent school offering instruction by means of DL is 50% or 35% of the per student operating grant of the school district in which the school/program is located.
Funding for students enrolled in a Group 1 or 2 independent school offering instruction by means of DL:
- is based on a FTE student count as determined through Data Collection in September (counted as 1.0FTE), February (counted as .5 FTE) and May (counted as .33 FTE) for students in grades K-9.
- is based on a course count (.125 FTE) for each course for which a student in grade 10-12 has been enrolled and is active.
External Evaluation and Monitoring of Distributed Learning 
Group 1, 2 or 4 independent schools offering a DL educational program will:
- undergo an external evaluation, after the initial external evaluation, at least once every 2 years, and
- receive a monitoring inspection in the alternate years.
Inspections are based on compliance with the Independent School Act and the supporting regulations and orders and the education requirements set out in the Standards for Delivery of K-12 Independent School Distributed Learning in British Columbia
(93 KB PDF)
Supplementary Special Education Funding for Distributed Learning Students 
Supplementary special education funding is available for Group 1 and 2 Independent Schools upon approval of application for level 1, 2, or 3 funding, for authorities that offer a funded DL program.
Funding is designed for additional services provided and as outlined in the Ministry manual Special Education Services – A Manual of Policies, Procedures and Guidelines.
When students are enrolled in more than one school, funding will be made available to only one enrolling school. The boards or authorities must inform the ministry which school, based on an agreement between the boards or authorities, will be responsible to provide the special education service.
Sharing of Student Records 
Authorities or boards of independent or public schools that have students enrolled in both independent and public schools must provide to the other access to information in student records that is necessary for the authority or board to satisfactorily perform its obligations under the Independent School Act or the School Act.
Other Home Based Learning Options 
For more information on home based learning options see the following areas:
For information regarding blended independent school on-site and DL programs see Independent School Blended Educational Programs

