Submitted by: Colonel Gray Home and School Association
WHEREAS the COVID 19 pandemic has clarified the need for virtual schooling options for K-12 students in Prince Edward Island, and
WHEREAS with the exception of Prince Edward Island, all Canadian provinces offer free distance and online public education to K-12 students i., and
WHEREAS the move to online learning during the pandemic has shone a light on both the benefits and challenges of virtual schooling ii. and presents a unique learning opportunity to move forward with virtual schooling in this province in a way that is collaborative, informed, and innovative, and
WHEREAS it is recognized that most students learn better in a classroom setting, some students, who may otherwise fall through the cracks in our system, will benefit from virtual schooling,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the PEI Home and School Federation requests the Public Schools Branch and the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning to form a working group, with PEIHSF representation, to review public K-12 virtual education in Prince Edward Island and how to better serve PEI students.
DESTINATION: Public Schools Branch
Department Education and Lifelong Learning
BACKGROUND:
i. State of the Nation: K-12 Learning in Canada, https://k12sotn.ca/
ii. Virtual Schooling in Canada https://sites.google.com/site/virtualschoolscanada/
iii. Prince Edward Island Department Education and Lifelong Learning Flexible Learning 2020-2021 https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/sites/default/files/publications/eelc_flex_learning.pdf
Resolution 2021-1: K-12 E-Learning in Prince Edward Island
APPROVED AMENDMENT:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the P.E.I. Home and School Federation requests the Public Schools Branch and the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning to create a more defined working group, with PEIHSF representation, to review public K-12 virtual education in Prince Edward Island and how to better serve P.E.I. students.
Monday, May 10, 2021
| Destination: | Department of Education, Early Learning and Culture Public Schools Branch |
Department of Education and Lifelong Learning: Through an inter-provincial agreement, students in Prince Edward Island are funded to take online courses from the New Brunswick Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. During the 2020-2021 school year, there were 188 English Language students and 15 French Language students enrolled in online courses through this agreement. PEI students in grades 11-12 had access to 24 different courses in English and 19 courses in French. Over the years, more than a hundred PEI students have registered annually to one of the distance education courses offered by New Brunswick.There is no cost for our students to register these courses.
During the school year 2020-2021, the province has also developed a number of virtual learning initiatives to support immuno-compromised students and remote teaching and learning due to the COVID-19 situation. In addition, CFLF French language students took part in a virtual school pilot offering five courses during the second semester. Forty students were registered and planning for 2021-2022 is currently taking place.
The Department is continually reviewing its virtual learning options to better serve our student population. ~Hon. Natalie Jameson
Public Schools Branch: I acknowledge the approved resolutions from the May 10, 2021 Annual General Meeting and support the response provided by the Minister of Education and Lifelong Learning. The Public Schools Branch is prepared to collaborate with the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning in bringing the proposed resolutions to fruition.
~Bethany MacLeod, PSB Board Chair and Deputy Minister, DELL