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POLICY STATEMENT

School-age students requiring and receiving ESL services in a public school in B.C. are eligible for ESL funding for a maximum of five years.

RATIONALE

British Columbia is a diverse society. People from all parts of the globe contribute to the social, cultural, and linguistic fabric of our province. This diversity is mirrored in our schools’ population, both in the contributions made and in the unique needs that must be addressed.

The primary goal of the British Columbia school system is to support the intellectual development of students. Enabling students to achieve the goals of human and social development and career development is a responsibility shared by schools, families and the community. These goals apply equally to all students, including English as a Second Language learners.

ESL services enable students whose primary language or languages of the home are other than English to develop their individual potential within British Columbia’s school system. Some students who speak variations of English that differ significantly from the English used in the broader Canadian society may need similar services to access the curriculum.

LEGISLATION/ REGULATIONS

Sections 106.3 (5) and (6) of the School Act provide the legal framework for funding English Language Learners (ESL students).

POLICY

Students reported as ESL on the Form 1701 and who meet all of the requirements as specified on the Form 1701 Instructions may qualify for ESL funding.  Students enrolled with Conseil Scolaire Francophone may be reported as French as a Second Language (FSL), if all of the above requirements are met.

Support services for English as a Second Dialect (ESD) are recognised as part of ESL support services.  Students reported as requiring ESD services speak a dialect of English that differs significantly from Standard English used in school and in broader Canadian society.  Boards must meet all of the conditions noted in the Form 1701 Instructions in order to receive supplemental funding for ESD.

Students are eligible for ESL funding for up to five years, provided they continue to meet funding criteria.

An ESL student enrolled full time in an eligible full-day Kindergarten program (see 1701 Instructions for more information) will be funded as one full-time equivalent (FTE).

Boards of Education will be funded for $1,174 for each eligible FTE ESL student.

An ESL student may also be eligible to receive funding for Aboriginal Education or Special Needs funding, if the requirements of these programs are also met.

Adults are not eligible for ESL program funding.

PROCEDURES

Students requiring and receiving ESL services should be reported on the Form 1701.

An echo report will be provided to school districts identifying those students who have already received five years of ESL and therefore would not qualify for the additional funding.