IGBHA-R: District Alternative School Programs

CRITERIA FOR REVIEW OF PROPOSED PROGRAMS OF CHOICE

A program of choice approved by the Board will: 

• meet all VSB and Provincial policies and collective agreements; 
• be educationally sound; 
• fulfill a recognized educational interest separate from existing programs and services; 
• have clearly stated procedures for selection of students that are inclusive of all; 

In general, criteria for selecting students should include the following:

• selection will be based on a variety of sources of data
• academic grades will not be the sole criterion
• Vancouver students will be accepted before out-of-district students 
• be accessible, regardless of financial means; 
• be free from any religious, political or ethnic affiliation; 
• not have unreasonable financial implications to the Board; and, 
• have a plan to articulate with secondary school programs if the choice program goes beyond grade 7. 

Each program shall have selection procedures that will be cognizant of the Board’s policies on discrimination, the multiculturalism and antiracism policy, and the desirability of having a cross-section of district students in district programs. 

PROCESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS 

Proposals for Choice programs will be referred to the Learning Services Consulting Committee. 

The proposal will contain: 

• A clear description of the program; 
• Goals and objectives of the program; 
• Rationale for the program, including an explanation of: 
  • the educational soundness of the program;
  • how the program is consistent with the VSB Mission Statement and Beliefs, and Board policy, and how it fits with or complements provincial curriculum;
  • how the program is distinctly different from regular programming; 
• Intended enrolment (age, grade level(s) characteristics, educational needs and number of students); 
• A plan to articulate with Secondary programs if the Choice program goes beyond grade 7; 
• Proposed plan for communicating registration information to parents of the district; 
• Evidence of support for the program from within the Vancouver School District community; 
• Evidence of awareness of relevant contracts; 
• Evidence of success, if program exists elsewhere; 
• Financial implications including: 
  • short and long-term staff and space requirements, start-up costs and other required, long term resource needs;
  • any student fees anticipated, recognizing that any fees for district programs are established by the Board;
  • additional funding from the Board;
  • a complete explanation of any expected outside funding; whether from government, corporate, private or other sources, and any requirements connected with such outside funding; and 
  • Proposed student selection criteria in accordance with Board policy. 

Implementation, Management and Supervision of Alternative Programs of Choice 

• Implementation will be the responsibility of the Board, in keeping with Board policies and procedures; for example, site and space allocation, selection of students, assignment of staff, advertising of program, etc. 
• The administrators of the parent school shall be responsible for the management and supervision of the program, staff, and facilities. 

Alternative programs shall have access to the full range of services provided to students and staff in regular programs. 

Alternative programs shall be monitored on a regular basis with a review of a program taking place as part of the regular school growth planning of the parent school.  Programs of choice shall be continued when shown to be meeting the need of students.  Such programs should be modified in accordance with the identified needs of the student population and phased out when no longer needed.  Recommendations to modify or discontinue existing programs will be considered by the Learning Services Consultative Committee and the Senior Management Team.  Approval must be given by the Board. 

DMT Responsibility: AS-DLS