Ministry Policy Site

How to Read a Policy Document

This page explains what each section of a policy document means. The ministry policies on this site generally follow the format below.

 


POLICY STATEMENT

[Usually, the policy statement is the major guide to future action. It is generalized, philosophically based and goal oriented.]

RATIONALE

[This briefly introduces the policy and provides a history or rationale for the policy.]

LEGISLATION/REGULATIONS

[The sections of the School Act or other statutes that apply to the policy are reproduced or lined under this section. Unless otherwise reference, "the Act" means the School Act. Regulations are law. Authority for a regulation is contained in the statute.]

POLICY

[Elaborates on the Policy Statement. May identify specific objectives/goals of the policy. Provides additional information and interpretation of the Policy Statement.]

PROCEDURES

[Procedures outline the steps required to implement the policy. Generally, they outline who does what, how, and in what order. Procedures can be either "mandatory" or "discretionary." The two types are quickly distinguished by reference to their verbs:

  • Use of the word "shall", or "must" indicates mandatory items.
  • Use of the word "may" or "should" indicates discretionary items.]

 

 

Contents

    [Contact information is provided for one or more ministry staff to whom questions relating to the policy may be directed.]

  • [Other manuals, handbooks, documents, reports, Acts, regulations and policies are identified and linked (or access information otherwise provided) which provide additional information with respect to a particular policy.]