Professional development (pro-d) is required to support ongoing learning and improvement for educators throughout their careers. The Professional Standards for BC Educators (Standard 7) identify ongoing professional learning as an expectation for teachers as part of maintaining strong and effective teaching practice.

Pro-d days provide dedicated time for teachers, support staff and administrators to learn together, plan and strengthen school-based practices that support student success. This work is completed during non-instructional time so staff can focus fully on collaboration, training and planning.

Pro-d supports staff in:

• improving student learning by strengthening teaching practices and using evidence-informed approaches
• implementing Ministry curriculum and learning initiatives, including new resources, reporting requirements and assessment practices
• supporting diverse learners, including training related to inclusive education and student well-being
• reviewing student learning data to identify needs, adjust instruction and plan targeted supports
• engaging in school planning, including developing and reviewing school goals and strategies
• strengthening professional collaboration so educators have consistent approaches across classrooms and grade teams

Pro-d days help ensure staff have the training, tools and planning time needed to support students effectively throughout the school year.

Two flexible pro-d dates were permitted in the past to allow schools flexibility within their local context. In response to operational needs and feedback from families, we are proposing that all pro d dates be fixed beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. 

We understand the interest in aligning pro-d days with cultural or religious observances, however, there are limited opportunities to change pro-d dates within the school calendar. Each year includes five pro-d days. One of these days is a provincial wide pro-d day in October for all school districts in B.C. This leaves four pro-d days for the District to schedule for the rest of the school year. 

Over time, the District calendar advisory committee established predictable annual patterns for the four pro-d days, with consideration for the school planning cycle and to  balance statutory holidays and shorter months. For example, a pro-d day in September supports school start up planning, while a pro-d day in May supports year-end reflection and looking ahead to the following school year. 

Typically, pro-d days are not scheduled in December, March, or June to accommodate the breaks in those months. This leaves limited options for the remaining two pro-d days (November, January, February or April). This method of balancing where the professional days are placed throughout the calendar year is similar to other Metro Vancouver school districts. 

While the District considers community impacts each year, pro-d dates must be set within these requirements and alignment considerations.

September is a key month for school start-up and planning. A pro-d day early in the school year provides dedicated time for school staff to come together to plan for the year ahead. This includes reviewing school goals, setting up classroom and learning supports, planning for students with diverse needs and ensuring consistent approaches to teaching and assessment across grade groups and teams.

We recognize that September already includes statutory holidays and that additional non-instructional days can create challenges for families, particularly related to childcare and work schedules. The District considers these impacts each year. However, the September pro-d day remains an important part of the school planning cycle and supports a strong and well-organized start to the year for students.

The District always considers family planning and childcare impacts when planning pro-d days. When possible, the District does align pro-d days with long weekends. For example, the District has scheduled pro-d days to align with the Victoria Day statutory holiday in May for the 2026-2029 school years.

However, pro-d days must also fit within provincial requirements, the school planning cycle and collective agreement guidelines. In addition, the District works to align key dates, when possible, with other Metro Vancouver school districts. Because of these factors, it is not always possible to place all Pro-D days next to statutory holidays each year, but the District does try to the best of its ability. 

Spring break calendars must follow two key requirements: statutory holiday rules under collective agreements and minimum instructional hour requirements set by the Ministry of Education and Child Care.

Good Friday is a statutory holiday and is observed on the date set each year. When Good Friday falls during spring break, it does not create an additional “school day off” that can be moved elsewhere. Extending spring break by an extra day would reduce instructional time and would require the District to make up that time in another way.

To meet Ministry instructional hour requirements, adding a day to spring break would mean the District would need to extend instructional time on other school days.

For these reasons, spring break can vary slightly from year to year depending on how statutory holidays fall, but the District cannot add a day “in lieu” of Good Friday without affecting the required instructional time for students.

The District coordinates with neighbouring Metro districts for winter and spring breaks to support families with children in different districts and to maintain regional consistency. We must also follow local collective agreements and school calendar regulations set by the Ministry of Education and Child Car, including minimum instructional hour requirements. 

Extending the breaks would reduce instructional time and would require the District to make up that time by extending school days. Shortening the breaks would increase instructional time. However, the District cannot reduce the overall number of instructional days below what is required under Ministry regulations. Any change would also need to remain aligned with Metro Vancouver districts and within collective agreement requirements.

Alignment with Easter and Good Friday is challenging because the timing of these holidays varies widely from year to year. Shifting spring break to follow Easter each year would result in an unpredictable calendar pattern and could create operational challenges for schools, including impacts on school planning cycles and key reporting periods (such as summary of learning (previously known as report cards) timelines).

For these reasons, there is limited flexibility to significantly extend or shorten winter and spring breaks.