Part II - Education Allowances - Preparation for the move - Grade guidelines

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Education facts Outside Canada

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This Part is effective 01 July 2009

Questions related to this Administrative Instruction are to be forwarded via Email to: Dependent Education Management.

EDUCATION POST CEILING WEB SITES:

INDEX

Read this Part in conjunction with the following:

For Education allowance purposes, this chart shows Canadian secondary school graduation.

PROVINCE SECONDARY GRADUATION
British Columbia Grade 12
Alberta Grade 12
Saskatchewan Grade 12
Manitoba Grade 12
Ontario Grade 12
Quebec CÉGEP II (General pre-university program) Student must be working towards a Diploma of College Studies (DCS)
New Brunswick Grade 12
Prince Edward Island Grade 12
Nova Scotia Grade 12
Newfoundland Grade 12
Territories Grade 12
Outside Canada Grade 12

SECTION 1: GENERAL

1.1 Parents who are moving to a new school district should spend some time researching the school district and schools that their children will be attend. Initially, parents should determine which characteristics of a school and school district are most important for meeting the needs of their children. For instance, parents may be interested in the academic performance of students at he school, test scores, programs for special needs of students, courses offered, teacher turnover rates, graduation requirements, the availability of special resources, the size of the school population, the number of students per class, dropout rates, graduation rates, and other information. Parents may also want to know how parents whose children attend the school, regard the school and how the school is regarded in the community. The secondary school experience is a very complicated and challenging landscape. This is even more the case for the highly mobile, military-connected student population. Secondary students will be most interested in records transfer, interpretation systems of credits at new school, subjects offered, school calendars, school schedules, school standards and opportunities, extracurricular activities.

1.2 Each student is unique; they are children first and connected to the military second. Each new school situation brings a particular set of opportunities, challenges, and daunting unknowns. It is tough, regardless of the circumstance and the age of the student, to be the "new kid" over and over. Parents are the best counsellors. The parents are the key to all this, the teachers and counsellors can only do so much. So as a parent get involved with your children and plan ahead. The bottom line is you really have to be involved with your teens in order to make a transition smooth.

1.3 Screening is important.

Education screening and schooling facilities – Education benefits outside Canada

Improper and incomplete screening of members and dependants for posting outside of Canada continues to result in unnecessary administrative and financial burden to the CF.

Note: A member of a student requiring English as a Second Language instruction prior to arrival at the Post or a student that will require English as a Second Language at the post is to contact Dependent Education Management.

FSDs 34, 35, and 51 and this manual outline applicable education benefits for personnel posted outside Canada.

1.4 Compatibility

1.4.1 It is intended that elementary and secondary children of members living at the post are educated at the nearest compatible non-fee paying day school.

1.4.2 Compatible education means an education system providing an educational curriculum and services reasonably comparable to those normally provided without charge in public schools in Ontario in a junior kindergarten, kindergarten, elementary (grade 1 to 8) or secondary school (grade 9 to 12) The major criteria of compatibility is whether a child of normal ability, upon completion of a grade, or its equivalent, can enter the next higher grade in a public school on return to Canada.

1.4.3 The full range of educational facilities, normally found in Canada may not be available outside Canada. Members are cautioned to ensure appropriate language of instruction, grade level, special education requirements, if applicable, is available at the new post prior to accepting the posting. Education Screening for a Posting Outside Canada forms are to include a statement from the member that appropriate schooling is available at the new post in the appropriate language of instruction, grade level and special education, if required, prior to sign-off at unit level.

1.4.4 Language of instruction outside Canada, as within and when available, may be provided in the appropriate official language, i.e., the English or French language of instruction consistent with section 23 of the Minority Language Educational Rights prescribed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

1.4.5 French Immersion (FI) programs are optional programs for Anglophone pupils and are not contemplated under Section 23, Minority Language Educational Rights, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as a language of instruction. Such programs are not available outside Canada.

1.4.6 Special education programs are very limited at most posts outside Canada. Source of special education services outside Canada must be included on the Education Screening for a Posting Outside Canada form prior to sign-off.

1.4.7 For the most part, at the elementary level grade 1 to 8, be it Canadian, British or American, the education programs are compatible and transfers between programs at this level is not likely to provide an impediment for re-entry into the Canadian school system. At the secondary level, the systems begin to diverge. Whether it is Canadian, British or American, the education program is based on subject credit requirements and entry or re-entry requires some planning to ensure prerequisite requirement and introduction of subject content at various level is studied. It should be noted that school programs and course content might vary from education system to education system. Members are encouraged to obtain a curriculum outline from school dependants are now attending which will assist with course/subject planning at new school outside Canada.

1.5 Routine questions about entitlement may be directed to post personnel as follows:

For personnel posted to Europe contact:

CFSU (Europe)
Fax: 011-49-2451-717251

Member to obtain an electronic copy of the “Education Post Ceiling” from the gaining Outside Canada Support Unit education associate.

Schooling Information:

For personnel posted to the United Kingdom contact:

CFSU (E) Detachment United Kingdom
Fax: 011-44-11895-613-046

Member to obtain an electronic copy of the “Education Post Ceiling” from the gaining Outside Canada Support Unit education associate.

Schooling Information:

For personnel posted to United States except NORAD units or United Nations units contact:

CDLS Washington
Fax: 1-202-682-7673

Member to obtain an electronic copy of the “Education Post Ceiling” from the gaining Outside Canada Support Unit education associate.

Schooling Information:

For personnel posted to NORAD units in the United States contact:

CFSU Colorado Springs
Intranet only: http://colorado.mil.ca
Fax: 1-719-556-8246

Member to obtain an electronic copy of the “Education Post Ceiling” from the gaining Outside Canada Support Unit education associate.

Schooling Information:

For personnel posted as a CDA, CDAA, an exchange position in other than Europe, UK, USA or to a MPSS Assignment outside Canada contact:

VCDS OUTCAN Coordinator
Fax: 1-613-995-1273

Member to obtain an electronic copy of the “Education Post Ceiling” from the gaining Outside Canada Support Unit education associate

Schooling Information:

FOR PERSONNEL POSTED TO SHAPE (CASTEAU), AFNORTH (BRUNSSUM) AND GEILENKIRCHEN AREA:

To ascertain schooling facilities at each location contact the Canadian principal:

SHAPE International School (Canadian Section) Principal
Telephone: 011-32-65-44-59-85
Fax: 011-32-65-84-1738
SHAPE International School (Canadian Section) Web Site
E-mail: SHAPE International School Canadian Principal

AFNORTH International School (Canadian Section) Principal
Telephone: 011-31-455-27-8200
Fax: 011-31-455-27-8277
AFNORTH International School (Canadian Section) Web Site
E-mail: AFNORTH International School Canadian Principal - Elementary

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SECTION 2: STUDENT MOBILITY

2.1 Military connected students move from school system to school system about three times more often than other students. It is important for student to have their academic passport in order prior to the move. Items that require attention would be:

2.2 Returning to Canada before secondary graduation: