Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is a critical component to the healthy development of young children – impacting how we process emotions, achieve goals, maintain positive relationships and make responsible decisions in our lives. The Vancouver Early Years Partnership developed the new SEL Matters website to offer early years providers and parents/caregivers MORE
The Human Early Learning Partnership released Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) data for 2017/18 and 2018/19 for 31 BC school districts. MDI data reports on grade 4 and 7 students’ responses to questions about their well-being (health, happiness/sadness, self-esteem, optimism) and their assets (connections to adults, friends, peers). The data MORE
A recent study by researchers at the University of British Columbia found that higher levels of music participation in students in grades 7-12 correlated with higher exam scores in all subjects. Highly engaged instrumental music students were, on average, academically over 1 year ahead of their peers. The findings suggest MORE
The Office of the Auditor General of British Columbia released a progress audit to look at changes government has made since their 2015 audit of the education of Aboriginal students in the B.C. public school system. The original 2015 audit found there were gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in MORE
BCEdAccess Society is hosting their 5th parent advocacy education conference, #AdvoCon2019, on October 18-19 2019 in Surrey, BC. The event will gather families and allies of students with disabilities and complex learners to continue our conversations, learn, and strengthen strategies and seek solutions to achieving equitable access to education in MORE
In May 2019, Insights West conducted a survey on behalf of First Call and the Institute for Public Education of British Columbia (IPE/BC), with support from the Lochmaddy Foundation. 817 British Columbians were surveyed on their opinions and knowledge of BC public and private education funding. The poll found that four-in-five British MORE
The Supporting Progressive Inclusive Child-centred Education (SPICE) Research Lab recently shared results from an investigation on special education. The research is a population-based investigation of the K-12 educational trajectories of children across multiple categories of needs. The survey respondents helped identify research priorities related to the education journeys of students MORE
UNICEF Canada released The Equalizer: How Education Creates Fairness for Children in Canada this week, which is the Canadian Companion to the global report. In The Equalizer, UNICEF digs deeper into what contributes to inequalities and how Canada could do better. Out of 38 rich countries, Canada ranks 9th in MORE
CBC News: Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to develop memorial register of residential school deaths BC Local News: Residential school ‘monster’ now lives in child-welfare system: senator Delta Optimist: B.C. announces new transition housing for women fleeing violence Benzinga: Public education is a strong equalizing force in Canadian society, UNICEF MORE
The Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence honour exceptional elementary and secondary school teachers in all disciplines. The committee looks for clear evidence that nominees have excelled in all of the following five areas: Digital and Creative Literacy in the Classroom, Innovative and Exemplary Teaching Practices, Support Student Success and MORE
Toronto.com: (Opinion) Extend Canada Child Benefit to all The Nelson Daily: Op/Ed:Progress on Child Care in BC StarMetro Vancouver: Even social-housing workers are being priced out of Vancouver Global News: Housing crunch pushing even the suburbs out of reach of B.C. families: report Times Colonist: Tent cities a ‘viable first step’ toward solving housing crisis MORE
Kelowna Daily Courier: B.C. budget committee hears plea for provincial funds for youth recovery house Columbia Valley Pioneer: B.C. advocacy groups aim for new federal autism funding Globe and Mail: B.C. cancer patient’s case exposes gaps in care for homeless people, advocates say The Tyee: Health Minister Reflects on BC’s ‘Big Challenge’: Fighting Poverty MORE
First Call joins organizations across Canada in endorsing Sugary Drinks Levy’s campaign calling the Government of Canada to introduce a levy on manufacturers of sugary drinks to reduce consumption and to partially recover related health care costs. The proceeds of a sugary drink levy on manufacturers should be used to fund healthy living initiatives MORE
Globe and Mail Limited screen time, adequate physical activity and sleep associated with improved cognition for kids: study Times Colonist: Comment: Are private schools better than public schools? Perception versus reality Huffington Post: Canada Needs A ‘Children’s Charter’ To Protect Kids’ Rights Georgia Straight: Melanie Mark: Provincial tuition waiver program helps young people formerly MORE
Join us at First Call’s Fall Public Education Forum with special guest, Annie Kidder from People for Education in Ontario. Public education allies often find themselves rushing from one issue to the next in what seems like an unending series of crisis. This forum aims to explore what collective strategies MORE