Education Screening for Tentative Selection for OUTCAN Posting and Applicable Forms

Screening for a Posting to an Isolated or Semi-Isolated Location in Canada:
Screening for a Posting to an Isolated or Semi-Isolated Location in Canada - Questionnaire on Educational Performance of Elementary and Secondary Dependants

Screening applicable to the locations outside Canada

Are you considering a posting outside Canada?

Before thinking on applying for a posting outside Canada (OUTCAN), you owe it to yourself and to your family to take a look at the information provided here which should help you to make a proper decision on whether you and your family are ready for this great experience. http://www.outcan.forces.gc.ca/sites/page-eng.asp?page=8888

Education Screening

VCDS/OUTCAN - On the first of June 2006 the VCDS took authority, responsibility and accountability for OUTCAN activities. Oversight of OUTCAN was delegated to the COS of the VCDS. The OUTCAN Co-ordination Section was created to assist the COS of the VCDS with this function. The Co-ordination Section has focused on development of policy direction and guidance and the development of the database. OUTCAN web site: www.outcan.forces.gc.ca

Purpose: The Intranet Web Site www.outcan.forces.gc.ca provides information regarding OUTCAN activities, information on some of the major organizations, and background on some of the OUTCAN positions.

PURPOSE OF SCREENING

The purpose of education screening is to ensure that the educational needs of the student can be met at the approved schools at the new post as identified in the Education Post Ceiling for that location.

In order for a DND member/employee or LOSA school teacher to proceed outside Canada, all school aged dependants must be screened “Green” indicating that the educational needs of a student can be met at the Post Ceiling School outside Canada.

It is important to both the military and to the family that they are assigned to a location that can meet their children’s educational needs. Please take care in reading and completing the required education information. Completion of the education process normally takes five-seven school days from receipt of a screening message. Research should begin now regarding post ceiling schools (the official roster of government approved compatible schools at the location to which you are moving), websites, school calendars as to teaching days/holidays, and the email address of the gaining school principal or school authority therefore the education screening can be completed in a timely manner.

Education Post ceiling - is established for each post to reflect the cost of admissible education expense.

KEY POINTS TO CONSIDER

Members are to read the Outside Canada Education of Children “How To” Book – “Part II Education Allowances - Preparation for the Move - Grade Guidelines for Educational Systems of Ontario, United States, Great Britain, France National, Belgium Lycée, and Quebec Education System Including CEGEP” at:

www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dem-epcg/pd/oce-drf/part-partie-02-eng.asp

It is intended that children at the elementary and secondary school level living at the post be educated at the nearest compatible non-fee paying day school. An Education Post Ceiling is established with input from all government departments and is applicable to all government departments with employees serving outside Canada and will assist parents with schooling research at the intended posting location. As per FSD 34.03 (b), the “Representative School” and FSD 34.03 (d) “Other school(s) on the roster” are authorized compatible schooling at the Post/Mission/Unit location. Prior to education sign-off, the member is responsible for identifying schools for accompanying dependent children. Secondary students may have an option for education in a Canadian curriculum school and therefore may be entitled to schooling away from the post but must screen “Green” for schooling at the post first.

A compatible school is one that provides 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 criterion of compatibility is whether a child of normal ability, upon completion of a grade, or its equivalent, can enter the following grade in a public school upon return to Canada.

For the most part at the elementary levels, grades 1 to 8 be they Canadian, British or American, the education programs are compatible and transfers between programs at this level are 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 levels is studied. It should be noted that school programs and course content will vary from one education system to another. Members are encouraged to obtain a curriculum outline from the school that his/her dependants are now attending which will assist with course/subject planning at new school outside Canada.

Members are cautioned that the full range of educational facilities normally found in Canada may not be available at posts outside Canada. Prior to accepting a posting, members must confirm the availability at the new post of instruction in the appropriate language and grade level, as well as special education requirements, if applicable. 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.

Language of instruction outside Canada, as within English or French. Note: A member with a student who will attend an English Language of Instruction at the new post and requires English as a Second Language instruction prior to arrival at the Post is to contact Dependent Education Management.

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. French tutoring programs are offered outside Canada. Please refer to Language Tutoring Outside Canada.

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.

University planning should be taken into consideration when members will be accompanied to the post outside Canada by children preparing for university and planning on enrolling in a school under a foreign curriculum. At the secondary level, the course selection, education stream, subjects and programs offered in relation to Post Secondary course of study that may be chosen are very important. Members are advised to communicate with the Canadian University of choice in advance to confirm that the courses selected will be acceptable to the Canadian university.

Information on post secondary education in Canada can be obtained on the following website Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada

Improper and/or incomplete screening of members and dependants for posting outside of Canada can result in situations where the member proceeds to the post and then discovers afterward that a child’s educational needs cannot be met. Such situations can have a very negative impact on both the student and the family and can result in an unnecessary administrative and financial burden to the CF if early repatriation is required.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH EDUCATION SCREENING

Some students have special needs that require additional support beyond what is ordinarily received in the school setting. Children with behavioural or communication disorders, intellectual, physical or multiple disabilities, or who are gifted may require special education services or programs to enable them to attend school and/or to benefit fully from their school experience. Parents of such students are cautioned that special education programs are very limited at some outside Canada schools. Education concerns should be discussed with the gaining school principal prior to accepting a posting. Names, addresses and websites of gaining schools may be found on the Education Post Ceiling, under Section 2 – Representative School that has been established for the intended posting location.

Additional testing and psycho-educational assessments may be required by the gaining principal to clarify strengths and needs of a particular student to ensure that the gaining school can successfully meet the student’s educational needs. The parent(s) and the school principal will be notified of the nature of assessments required. Current and past report cards are important to the gaining principal in order to determine educational needs/course selection/availability of education programs at new school. Formal standardized assessments of aptitude and achievement or processing may be used in a student’s assessment, such as:

CROSS POSTING

Education screening is very important because education services provided at one post may not be same as gaining post. English/French Language of instruction may not be available. Available education services vary from post to post, school to school, thus post ceilings are to be used in identifying schools at the gaining post. State (non-fee paying) schools, equivalent to provincial schools in Canada, provide a wider range of programs and services than do fee paying schools. Members being cross-posted are to contact Dependent Education Management via email to discuss education options.

POST SECONDARY STUDENTS BEING EDUCATED IN CANADA

No requirement to complete a form on behalf of Post Secondary Students, proceed to OUTCAN Checklist.

HOME SCHOOLING

Home schooling laws vary from country to country and within each country from province/state to province/state.

On receipt of a screening message, an education specific screening form in conjunction with the OUTCAN Checklist must be completed on behalf of all dependants under age 21. Home schooling laws vary from country to country. Instruction at Home –Students who are following a home study program prior to posting outside Canada may be approved to continue with instruction at home outside Canada. Members are to become familiar with the country for which posting is intended prior to completing the education screening. Normally, instruction at home, unless no other education alternative is available at the posting location, will not be authorized for a student entering a home study program upon receipt of posting instruction for outside Canada.

CHILD WHO WILL ATTAIN AGE THREE YEARS EIGHT MONTHS AS OF 01 SEPTEMBER WHILE POSTED OUTSIDE CANADA

On receipt of a screening message, an education specific screening in conjunction with OUTCAN Checklist must be completed.

CHILD WHO IS OVER AGE THREE YEARS EIGHT MONTHS AND LESS THAN 21 YEARS OF AGE AND NOT IN SCHOOL AT TIME OF POSTING

On receipt of a screening message, an education specific screening in conjunction with OUTCAN Checklist.

FRENCH IMMERSION (FI) PROGRAMS

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. French tutoring program is offered outside Canada. Please refer to Language Tutoring Outside Canada

ROMAN CATHOLIC EDUCATION

Roman Catholic education is provided by the Ontario Ministry of Education and Training in the Province of Ontario. This right was guaranteed prior to Confederation and is confirmed in the Constitution of Canada. The Education Post Ceiling outlines the availability of Roman Catholic schooling at intended posting locations outside Canada.

SECONDARY EDUCATION

Parents of secondary students who are attending grade 9-12 in Canada prior to a posting outside Canada or who will be entering grade 9-12 upon return to Canada, are to research graduation requirements at post schools and, if required, email Dependent Education Management in Ottawa to determine education options.

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE PRIOR TO POSTING

A member with a student who will attend an English Language of Instruction school at the new post and requires English as a Second Language instruction prior to arrival at the post is to contact Dependent Education Management.

CAUTION FOR PARENTS WITH CHILDREN THAT REQUIRE SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Parents of children with special needs are cautioned that special education programs are very limited at some outside Canada schools. Education concerns should be discussed with gaining school principal prior to accepting a posting. It is extremely frustrating for families to arrive at a location that does not have services in place to meet the educational needs of a student. The screening process is designed to provide the family with information regarding available services prior to relocating.

Education screening steps as follows:

Step 1: Review post ceiling

Review the Education Post Ceiling and determine type of schooling offered at the post.

Step 2: Review education preparation for move.

Preparation for the move - Grade guidelines for educational systems of Ontario, United States , Great Britain , France, Belgium Lycée and Quebec education system including CEGEP .

Step 3: You are now ready to start the process, simply follow the links:

Step 4: In conjunction with your OUTCAN screening checklist, for the location to which you are posted complete the appropriate screening form.

Note: Education Screening Questionnaire not required for a student attending a Post Secondary school in Canada.

Item 1: Review the Posting Ceiling for your post.

Item 2: For Home schooling or a child under 3 years 8 months and for a child over 3 years 8 months and under 21 years of age complete the appropriate screening form.

Item 3: Select the screening applicable to the continent that you are posted to:

Step 5: LOSING UNIT LEVEL SIGN OFF - To be completed by the losing unit: an officer holding an appointment of Base Commander, Wing Commander, Senior Canadian Officer, Commanding Officer, Wing/Base Personnel Selection Officer or Wing/Base Administrative Officer.

Step 6: Green sign-off is the decision of the gaining unit sign-off authority and this has been reflected in part 5 , of the education screening questionnaire as the final step in the education screening process. This is usually signed off at the gaining unit level upon green screening sign-off of the OUTCAN screening form.

Questions related to this education screening on posting outside Canada are to be forwarded via Email to: Dependent Education Management

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