BC Guide for Independent Schools

Back to Table of Contents

EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS

This section includes:

General Curriculum Requirements

Educational programs in Group 1, 2 and 4 independent schools must meet the instructional time, subject offering, learning outcomes and other requirements specified in the Independent School Act, Regulations and Orders (particularly Ministerial Order 41/91, the Educational Standards Order).

On-site external evaluations and monitoring inspections will confirm that independent school authority approved courses are meeting Ministry of Education requirements.

Board/Authority Authorized Courses

Board/Authority Authorized (BAA) Courses may be used to meet graduation requirements for all Grade 10 - 12 certified programs.

Independent schools must develop the BAA Course Framework according to the Board/Authority Authorized Courses: Requirements and Procedures document.

Use the BAA Course Verification Page (336KB) as a cover page for the BAA Course Framework. Please note that for Independent Schools this cover page replaces the suggested BAA Course Framework Template title page on page 10 of the Board/Authority Authorized Courses: Requirements and Procedures document.

BAA COURSE REGISTRATION/VERIFICATION PROCESS

In order to verify that the BAA Course has been properly registered and approved and can be offered for credit, the following items must be completed:

  • The BAA Course Framework is developed according to the BAA Course Requirements and Procedures.
  • Principal and Authority review and approve the developed course by signing/dating the attached BAA Course Verification Page.
  • To offer the BAA course for credit, it must be registered with the Ministry by submitting via fax (250-356-0277) a completed I-1526 Form (48KB PDF) (with Course Code left blank). Instructions (48KB PDF) on how to fill out the I-1526.
  • The Ministry will assign a Course Code to the school. Record this code on the BAA Course Verification Page.
  • Retain the completed BAA Course Framework for review and signing by a representative of the Office of the Inspector of Independent Schools during a monitoring or evaluation visit. DO NOT SUBMIT THE BAA COURSE TO THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR (UNLESS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED BY THE OFFICE).

Please note that the BAA Course Framework is the school's curriculum document. As with all courses, classroom implementation requires the development of a course overview which includes content, teaching strategies, assessment methods, and linkages to learning outcomes (as found in the BAA Course Framework).

Program Requirements

All students enrolled in Grades Kindergarten to 9 must be offered the following minimum number of instructional hours each year (Ministerial Order 41/91, the Educational Standards Order, section 3 (2)):

  • 450 hours of instruction for Kindergarten.
  • 850 hours of instruction for Grades 1 to 9.

Kindergarten to Grade 9 Program Requirements

Courses in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science, and the mandatory second language in Grades 5 - 8, must meet the learning outcomes set out in the educational program guides (Integrated Resource Packages (IRPs)) referred to in Ministerial Order 333/99, the Educational Program Guide Order, and in the Educational Standards Order 4 (4). Learning outcomes are listed in Appendix A of all IRP's.

All other courses must meet either:

  • the learning outcomes set out in the applicable educational program guide (IRP) for that course or subject and grade, or
  • the learning outcomes established by the independent school authority for that course or subject and grade (Ministerial Order 41/91, the Educational Standards Order, section 4 (5)).

The following subjects are required areas of study:

  • In each school year, an authority shall offer an educational program to all students enrolled in Kindergarten to Grade 7 that includes the following (Ministerial Order 41/91, the Educational Standards Order, section 4 (1)):

    (a) English Language Arts,
    (b) Social Studies,
    (c) Mathematics,
    (d) Science,
    (e) Physical Education,
    (f) Fine Arts,
    (g) Personal Planning.

  • In each school year, an authority shall offer to all students enrolled in Grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 instruction in a second language (Ministerial Order 41/91, the Educational Standards Order, section 4 (2)). All mandatory second language courses must be provincially-approved. Independent schools desiring to teach a second language, to fulfill this mandatory second language requirement, for which no Ministry IRP has been produced, must develop its course using the provincial Languages Template 5 to 12 and secure approval from the Ministry's Content & Achievement Unit or the Inspector.
  • In each school year, an authority shall offer an educational program to all students enrolled in Grades 8 and 9 that includes the following (Ministerial Order 41/91, the Educational Standards Order, section 4 (3)):

    (h) English Language Arts,
    (i) Social Studies,
    (j) Mathematics,
    (k) Science,
    (l) Physical Education,
    (m) *one of the following Fine Arts: Drama, Music, or Visual Arts,
    (n) *one of the following Applied Skills: Industrial Education, Home Economics, or Business Education,
    (o) Career and Personal Planning.

    Courses listed under m) and n) may be offered in alternate years. Students are required to take at least one Fine Arts and one Applied Skills course in Grade 8 or 9.

Graduation Program Requirements

Students who enrolled in Grade 11 before July 1, 2004 are enrolled in the Graduation Program 1995. In order to graduate, students must earn at least 52 credits by successfully completing Grade 11 and 12 courses as outlined on this chart. An overview of the Graduation Program 1995 and how it applies to Grade 12 students can be found in the Grad Bulletin.

Students who enrolled in Grade 10 after July 1, 2004 are enrolled in the Graduation Program 2004. In order to graduate, students must earn at least 80 credits by successfully completing Grade 10, 11 and 12 courses as outlined on this chart. An overview of the Graduation Program 2004 and how it applies to Grade 12 students can be found in the Grad Planner: Grades 10-12 (480KB PDF)

Provincial Student Transcripts for Independent School Students

Graduates from Group 1 and 2 independent schools who satisfy graduation requirements may receive a provincial transcript and a British Columbia Certificate of Graduation (the "Dogwood Diploma").

Graduates from Group 4 schools who satisfy graduation requirements may receive a British Columbia Certificate of Graduation and transcript of grades if all teachers in the school hold valid British Columbia teacher certification.