Resource Policy

CHeS Resource Policy

The Ministry of Education no longer conducts evaluation processes to recommend learning resources, leaving the responsibility to the school authority.  This policy sets out the procedures that determine how learning resources are chosen, as well as how concerns or challenges will be addressed by CHeS.

The intent of this policy is to ensure that any resources utilized by CheS families have been previously evaluated and approved by CHeS.

Learning Resource Policy

All learning resources used in the home learning environment must be approved for meeting the Ministry of Education learning standards, BAA standards, or IEP goals set up for Special Education students. Families in K-9 may meet Ministry standards across the grades while High School students will typically focus more specifically on course competencies and content. Students with an IEP may have modifications that indicate learning or behavioral goals outside of Ministry expectations.  All resources will also be evaluated and approved with consideration given to their fit with CHeS religious values (statement of faith), pedagogy, social considerations, age and developmental appropriateness, as well as the school authority’s philosophical perspectives (vision, goals, and values). Resources with a social media element are not approvable by CHeS as we cannot be responsible for this type of communication.  

Level 1 learning resources are CHeS system-wide instructional materials and optional textbooks used as resources by CHeS families to fully or partially meet core expectations for learning defined by provincial and local curricula.  Level 1 resources will be approved by a teacher and the Principal and placed in the CHeS online catalogue, prepared course templates or resource lists available in course templates.

Level 2 learning resources are locally approved resources designed to fully or partially meet Ministry learning objectives, BAA standards, or IEP goals. Level 2 learning resources are often base resources or supplementary, complementary resources used by individual families. These may include books, individual topic units, videos, software resources, equipment rentals, field trips, lessons in the community, etc... Level 2 resources are approved by the Learning Mentor during the learning plan creation and in consultation with the school administrator, Principal as necessary.

Level 3 resources are occasional additions to the learning plan throughout the year and thus considered supplementary or complementary to the educational program. Level 3 resources are to be evaluated using the evaluation criteria in the learning resource approval process by the Learning Mentor and in consultation with the school administrator, Principal as necessary.

Learning Resources Approval Process

CHeS will encourage teachers to utilize education media that have been evaluated by this process. The recommended scope of professional learning resources for review include Elementary (Gr K-9) and Secondary (Gr 10-12).

Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation criteria used in determining appropriate learning resources for the school will include, but are not limited to:

  • Compatibility with CHeS’ Statement of Faith, Vision, Goals, and Values
  • Supporting the learning standards of the BC curriculum or BAA standards
  • Supporting IEP goals for SE students
  • Assisting students in making connections between what they learn in the home and its practical application in their lives
  • Addressing developmental and age appropriateness
  • Having effective instructional and technical design
  • Meeting the requirements set by copyright and privacy (PIPA) legislation
  • Suitability based on the pedagogical, social, philosophical, and religious values of CHeS

Approval/Withdrawal of Recommended Learning Resources

Level 1 learning resource approval is confirmed or withdrawn by the Principal annually

Level 2 learning resources approval will be confirmed by each individual DL teacher during the learning plan development process. Resources may be withdrawn at any time if deemed unsuitable by the Learning Mentor or Principal.

Level 3 learning resources should be included in the learning plan at the time of need and confirmed by each individual the Learning Mentor – Principal consultation as necessary. Level 3 resources are rarely withdrawn as they are included only as legitimate needs arise.

Challenge to the Use of Recommended Learning Resources

Challenges to the use of authority-recommended learning resources must be made in writing to the principal and copied to the school administrator, identifying the learning resource and stating the reason why the resource(s) may not be suitable.  Challenges will only be accepted from individuals in the school community whose children are directly engaged with the learning resource(s), or educators who use the resource(s).

Within 14 days of written receipt of a learning resource challenge, the principal will convene a meeting of a committee, consisting of themselves and the practicing Learning Mentor (school administrator optional).

Based on the committee’s recommendation, the authority may dismiss the challenge, raise the awareness of the implications of using the resource with the teaching staff, communicate with the publisher and/or withdraw the recommended resource from further use in the school.

The individual issuing the challenge will be notified of the committee’s decision in writing within 14 days of the decision. If this decision is unsatisfactory for the individual they may appeal using our Parent Appeals Procedure (see below).

Sources of Learning Resources

CHeS will maintain lists of level 1 resources and will continually update level 2 and 3 resources as those resources are shared with individual families.