Building On Success: Looking To The Future
Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon
2013 - 2018 Action Plan For FSL Education in British Columbia
September 27th, 2013
227 C – 1555 W 7th Avenue
Vancouver BC, V6J 1S1
www.cpf.bc.ca
1
OVERVIEW
French second language education in BC is, by all accounts, a success story.
During a period of overall student enrolment decline, French immersion enrolment has, for
15 consecutive years, increased. According to the 2011 Federal census over 300,000 British
Columbians self-identify as being able to speak French, making French one of the most
commonly spoken languages in our province. A majority of these British Columbians
benefited from FSL education. Second and even third generation French immersion
graduates are now returning to FSL education as parents and teachers. French immersion
education is now a tried, tested, and proven program delivery model; public awareness
about the strengths and benefits of the program only continues to grow.
Moreover, support for bilingualism has overwhelmingly swayed in favour of French second
language education. According to a 2007 CROP poll, 88 per cent of Canadians believe that
people who speak more than one language are better prepared to succeed in today’s global
economy. The poll also showed that two thirds of Canadians felt that Canada’s two official
languages help define what it is to be Canadian. In an era of great interest in other
languages, including Mandarin and Punjabi, to name a few, French language education
continues to enjoy great parental and government support. A key opportunity moving
forward is to continue to position FSL education as a “gateway to multilingualism.”
Another important area of progress in recent years has been the number of working
partnerships between Francophone associations and Francophiles. This past year alone
there were 14 socio-cultural collaborations between CPF Chapters and local francophone
associations. This rapprochement has resulted in a greater appreciation for French
language and French culture, amongst tens of thousands of FSL students. FrancophoneFrancophile partnerships have, and will continue to contribute significantly to the vitality
of a French linguistic space in our province.
Finally, within a trend of declining volunteerism within our society, Canadian Parents for
French BC & Yukon enjoys record levels of parent participation in promoting and creating
French language and cultural opportunities. This past year, 145 CPF parent volunteers
dedicated 3,600 hours to host 71 French socio-cultural events and activities in school
communities for youth.
In short, our education system and our province have been enriched by hundreds of
thousands of students who have been supported in their pursuit to learn, use, and
appreciate the French language and culture. The Roadmap for Canada’s Official Languages
and the BC Ministry of Education’s 2009/2010 – 2012/2013 French Action Plan have had an
important and considerable impact in a number of domains, particularly: student
participation, provision of programs, and enriched school environment.
Building On Success: Looking To The Future
CPF BC/YK 2013 - 2018 Action Plan For FSL Education in British Columbia
2
Despite considerable achievements, CPF BC & Yukon recognizes key areas for continued
improvement vis-à-vis the offering of FSL education in our province:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
Too many families who wish to participate in and be enriched by French immersion
programs are being denied access for a host of reasons (lack of classroom space,
lack of teachers, etc.); funding formulas are needed to incentivize the creation of
new programs.
Too many students are dropping out of Core French and French immersion at the
early high school grades; this requires further study and concerted multistakeholder efforts to be corrected.
Too many families do not continue to participate in FSL education because they
believe their child with a learning challenge will not succeed; these parents need to
be equipped with the appropriate research and FSL students with learning
challenges need better learning assistance support.
Too few elementary and middle school teachers teaching Core French in our
education system feel comfortable teaching French; this has and will continue to
hurt student participation and quality instruction.
Too few school districts have active French Advisory Committee/Councils; the
allocation of Federal French Funds to school districts should carry a requirement
that school districts have active FACs to review funding allocations and develop and
monitor district FSL action plans, amongst other functions.
There is currently a lack of language proficiency targets and benchmarks for both
FSL teachers and FSL students; following in the leadership of the Yukon Ministry of
Education, BC curriculum should set CEFR-based proficiency targets for FSL
teachers and students.
Access to quality FSL programming remains a challenge in rural communities where
there is a lack of critical mass to continue FSL programs through to graduation; FSL
online learning courses offered through LearnNow BC need to be analyzed to asses
impact, attrition rates, improved (as may be necessary), promoted, and expanded as
needed.
The purpose of this CPF BC & Yukon 2013-2018 action plan is to establish the current state
of FSL education in our province and to outline a plan to improve the quality and
accessibility for FSL education over the next five years.
CPF BC & Yukon looks forward to assisting the BC Ministry of Education to develop the
priorities, objectives, and activities for a motivational, and yet achievable, 2013 – 2018
French Action Plan vis-à-vis French Second Language education in BC.
Building On Success: Looking To The Future
CPF BC/YK 2013 - 2018 Action Plan For FSL Education in British Columbia
3
SUMMARY OF CPF 2013 - 2018 ACTION PLAN PRIORITIES
Domain: Student Participation
1. Increase the number of new and/or additional FI programs where there is sufficient
demand;
2. Support students with learning challenges to participate in FI education;
3. Increase FI student retention at high-risk grade transitions (7 – 10);
4. Increase Core French student retention at high-risk grade transitions (8-10);
Domain: Provision of Programs
5. Legislate Core French from Grades 5 – 8;
6. Develop a 5 Year Strategy to improve and/or replace Core French;
7. Increase online tutoring & online FSL program availability;
8. Introduce French immersion programs to BC Global Education Schools;
9. Increase accountability & oversight of Federal French Funds;
Domain: Student Performance
10. Develop language proficiency targets and benchmarks for FSL teachers and FSL
students;
Domain: Enriched School Environment
11. Enrich student learning and cultural appreciation through community-based sociocultural programming;
12. Engage, Connect, & Support FSL Youth.
Building On Success: Looking To The Future
CPF BC/YK 2013 - 2018 Action Plan For FSL Education in British Columbia
4
DOMAIN: STUDENT PARTICIPATION – FRENCH IMMERSION
Context
An ambitious French program for non-francophone students, French immersion is
designed to produce functionally bilingual students by using French as the language of
instruction. French immersion programs parallel the regular English program in structure
and content.
French immersion enrolment in BC has been increasing at an average rate of 4.1% for the
past 15 years. The growth in French immersion has been fuelled by parents looking to
register their children in a strong, reputable, second language immersion program. Parents
have different motivations for registering their children in this incredibly popular program
of choice; this much is undeniable. Our goal as a parent-lead organization must be to
continue to educate all parents about French second language (FSL) program delivery
models, the benefits of bilingualism, the accessibility of FSL education to students with
learning challenges, and to continuously strive to create new programs where there is
sufficient demand.
Baseline
Of the 46 school districts that offered French immersion, 28 districts offered a late
immersion program, and 40 offered an early immersion program. Nineteen school districts
offered both programs. Thirteen school districts, excluding SD 93 Conseil scolaire
francophone, did not offer any French immersion programs.
As of 2012/2013 a total of 47,857 public school students were enrolled in French
immersion programs, accounting for approximately 8.5% of the total public school student
population.
Building On Success: Looking To The Future
CPF BC/YK 2013 - 2018 Action Plan For FSL Education in British Columbia
5
Interestingly, French immersion participation - as a percentage of total student enrolment is as high as 17.51% in Greater Victoria (SD61), and 15.80% in Campbell River (SD72).
Building On Success: Looking To The Future
CPF BC/YK 2013 - 2018 Action Plan For FSL Education in British Columbia
6
Attrition Analysis
Despite an increase in enrolment, attrition in French immersion programs has seen little
improvement in the past five years. The attrition rate between Grade 1 to 5 has dropped by
less than 3% since 2008 (17.3% to 14.6%), while the Grade 7 to 12 attrition rate has
remained constant (42.1% to 42.0%).
Attrition is highest between Grades 7 and 8, resulting in both the highest number of
students who leave the program as well as the highest attrition rate. In 2012-2013, 15% of
students (648 students) who were in Grade 7 in the previous school year did not continue
on to Grade 8.
One difficulty in calculating attrition at the secondary level is the fact that some students
choose to complete the French immersion diploma in Grade 11 rather than in Grade 12. As
a result, these students may not be accurately accounted for in the data below.
Additionally, since program entry generally occurs in Kindergarten and Grade 6, with some
entry in Grades 1 and 7, attrition rates could not be calculated from Kindergarten through
to Grade 12. These limitations resulted in two grade ranges: 1 to 5 and 7 to 12.
Building On Success: Looking To The Future
CPF BC/YK 2013 - 2018 Action Plan For FSL Education in British Columbia
7
Building On Success: Looking To The Future
CPF BC/YK 2013 - 2018 Action Plan For FSL Education in British Columbia
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What this analysis demonstrates is that there is considerable student attrition amongst a
few key ‘high-risk’ grade transitions; namely from grades 7 – 11. It’s important to note that
French immersion student attrition rates vary considerably from school-district to schooldistrict. For example, Comox Valley (SD 71), Sooke (SD 62), Kamloops-Thompson (SD 73),
and Central Okanagan (SD 23) all have statistically low grade 7 – 12 FI attrition rates: 10%,
14%, 16.1%, and 20.1% respectively. The provincial average is 42.23%.
Clearly there are a number of best practices being employed by these school districts that
require further study and to be shared with educators, and parents, across the province.
Building On Success: Looking To The Future
CPF BC/YK 2013 - 2018 Action Plan For FSL Education in British Columbia
9
DOMAIN: STUDENT PARTICIPATION – CORE FRENCH & INTENSIVE FRENCH
Context
Core French is a subject designed to enable non-French speaking students to begin to
understand and communicate in French, as well as to experience Francophone culture.
Core French as a course has been in the BC curriculum for over 35 years; however the
Language Education Policy, in place since September 1995, requires another language to be
taught from Grade 5 to Grade 8. This policy ensures that for a minimum of four years
students will take a second language course. French is the language most frequently
offered.
Intensive French has been introduced in some school districts in British Columbia (Rocky
Mountain SD 6, Surrey SD 36, Vancouver SD 39 and Mission SD 75), as an innovative
approach to teaching and learning French. Intensive French is an enhancement of the Core
French program.
Despite the incredible growth in French immersion programs, Core French enrolment has
been declining at a faster rate than total public school enrolment since 2005. Between 2003
and 2011, Core French enrolment has declined by 16.3%, while total enrolment has
declined by 5.8%. Because Core French classes are not mandatory, a possible explanation
for this decline could be that more students are enrolling in other language programs.
Baseline
Building On Success: Looking To The Future
CPF BC/YK 2013 - 2018 Action Plan For FSL Education in British Columbia
10
Only two out of 60 BC school districts (Nisga’a SD 92 and Conseil scolaire francophone SD
93) did not offer a Core French program in the preceding school year. Four of the 58
districts that offered Core French also offered Intensive French. In 2010-2011, 187,964
students were enrolled in Core French, making up almost one third (32.5%) of the public
school student population.
In 2011-2012, 191 students in four districts were enrolled in Grade 7, 8, and 9 Intensive
French.
Attrition Analysis
The highest attrition for Core French occurs between Grades 8 and 9, and 11 and 12. In
2010-2011, just under half (45.5%) of all Grade 8 Core French students did not continue on
to Grade 9. The Grade 8 to 9 transition is where the program loses the majority of its
students, as 14,755 Grade 8 students did not continue on to Grade 9 French in 2010-2011.
Grade 9 is typically when students in the English program are able to select other language
courses; therefore, it is likely that the majority of students who did not continue with Core
French have chosen to enroll in another language class.
The highest attrition rate in Core French occurs between Grade 11 and 12, where 63.1% of
Grade 11 Core French students do not go on to finish Grade 12 French. One explanation is
that most high school graduation requirements only require a second language up to Grade
11, so it is likely that the majority of students do not complete Grade 12 French because it
is not mandatory for graduation.
In the summer of 2013, CPF surveyed 18 school district French/Modern language
coordinators to better understand the reasons for this high Core French student attrition
between grades 8 – 12.
64.7% of school districts indicated a lack of interest among students as a challenge to
retention. The majority (58.8%) of school districts also identified a lack of qualified
teaching staff. This finding mirrors a 2007 UBC study in which only 22% of the surveyed
elementary school Core French teachers and 29% of middle school Core French teachers
reported ease in conversing in French.
One district representative specified that the lack of French language proficiency was
concentrated within staff at the intermediate level, and if students do not have a good
experience with early levels of Core French, then they are not likely to continue at the
secondary level. Other district representatives listed conflicting schedules at the secondary
level, and competition with other language courses.
Building On Success: Looking To The Future
CPF BC/YK 2013 - 2018 Action Plan For FSL Education in British Columbia
11
Building On Success: Looking To The Future
CPF BC/YK 2013 - 2018 Action Plan For FSL Education in British Columbia
12
Building On Success: Looking To The Future
CPF BC/YK 2013 - 2018 Action Plan For FSL Education in British Columbia
13
STUDENT PARTICIPATION: PRIORITIES, INITIATIVES, RESOURCES, & TIMELINE
2013 - 2018
CPF
Priorities
New MOE
French Action
Plan
Performance
Target(s)
Requested MOE Initiatives
1. Increase
the number
of new
and/or
additional
FI programs
where there
is sufficient
demand.
Increase
number of
students who
register in
French
immersion
programs by
5% annually.
i. Incentivize creation of new/
additional FI programs through a
$25,000 start-up grant via Federal
French Funding.
2. Support
students
with
learning
challenges
to
participate
in FI
education
Increase
retention of
students with
learning
challenges in
FI by 5%
annually.
i. Increase French funding allocated
to learning assistance.
3. Increase
FI student
retention at
high-risk
Decrease
overall FI
student
attrition by
Year
CPF Initiatives
Requested
Year
MOE
Funding
i. Year 1
ii. Create and distribute resources to help educate
parents about FI, learning outcomes, and benefits of
bilingualism.
iii. Support parents in their efforts to create new/
additional FI programs.
ii. Commission a special study on FI
Students With Special Needs. CPF
believes FI students face unique
academic challenges and have
needs not being systemically
recognized. It would be beneficial
for additional research and
statistical analysis, including but
not limited to, ‘baseline attrition
rates of students with learning
challenges in FI programs.’
N/A
i. Year 1
ii. Year 2
iii. Create and distribute research-based materials to
help educate parents about the accessibility of FI to
students with learning challenges.
iv. Research best practices amongst school districts in
supporting FI students with learning challenges.
Disseminate key findings to stakeholders.
v. Launch a French For All research-based parent
education campaign. Include benefits of bilingualism and
facts about students in FI with learning challenges.
N/A
i. Enrich student learning through school-based sociocultural activities. Aim for 20% of activities to target
high-risk grades.
ii. N/A
ii.
Ongoing
iii. N/A
iii.
Ongoing
iii. N/A
iii.
Ongoing
iv.
$30,000
iv. Year
3
v. $30,000
v. Year 4
i. N/A
i.
Ongoing
14
grade
transitions
5% annually.
ii. Develop a special FI Student Attrition Study from
Grades 7 – 10. Identify best practices used by school
districts where FI attrition is lowest. Survey students to
identify common reasons students leave the program
and messages that are most likely to promote continued
participation.
(7 – 10)
iii. Based on the FI Student Attrition Study, develop a
multimedia French For Life parent-student focused
education campaign promoting benefits of bilingualism
and continued FI participation.
4. Increase
Core French
student
retention at
high-risk
grade
transitions
(8-10)
Decrease
Core French
student
attrition by
5% annually
i. Work with the Education Minister
and the Teachers Regulation
Branch to change the certification
requirements of all new teachers
entering the teaching profession to
have, at minimum, one French
methodology course.
i. Year 1
ii. Enrich student learning through school-based extracurricular socio-cultural activities. Aim for 20% of
activities to target high-risk grades.
iii. Develop a Study On Core French Student Attrition
From Grades 8 – 10. Identify best practices used by
school districts where Core French attrition is lowest.
Survey students to identify common reasons students
leave the program, and messages that are most likely to
promote continued participation. This study would
complement the FI Student Attrition research and
analysis.
iii. Based on the Core French Student Attrition Study,
develop a multimedia French For Life student-parent
focused education campaign promoting the benefits of
bilingualism and continued Core French participation.
ii. $25,000
ii. Year 1
iii.
$30,000
iii. Year
2
ii. $25,000
ii. Year 1
iii.
$30,000
iii. Year
2
Total funding request
from MOE for new CPF
initiatives:
Year 1 - $50,000
Year 2 - $60,000
Year 3 - $60,000
Year 4 - $0
Year 5 - $0
Building On Success: Looking To The Future
CPF BC/YK 2013 - 2018 Action Plan For FSL Education in British Columbia
15
DOMAIN: PROVISION OF PROGRAMS
Context
French second language education, in British Columbia, is a program of choice. As such,
when lacking the necessary resources, or political will, school districts may choose not to
offer FSL education even where there is strong demand amongst parents.
To support the provision of programs, and the objectives of the Roadmap for Canada’s
Official Languages 2013 – 2018, and the Protocol for Agreements for Minority Language
Education and Second-Language Instruction, Federal French Funds are made available to
school districts in BC that offer FSL programs. In 2012/2013 the BC Ministry of Education
distributed $8.5 million to school districts based on funding formulas outlined in the
Federal French Funding Guide. These monies are to be used for the sole purpose of
supporting French immersion, Core French, and Intensive French education. School
districts report to the Ministry of Education – French Programs annually on their French
funding allocations. While reporting to the Ministry of Education is an important
mechanism of accountability, careful review of spending and the setting of local priorities
are done through school district French Advisory Committees (FACs).
Baseline
French Immersion
Of the 46 school districts that offered French immersion, 28 districts offered a late
immersion program, and 40 offered an early immersion program. Nineteen school districts
offered both programs. Thirteen school districts, excluding SD 93 Conseil scolaire
francophone, did not offer any French immersion programs.
Core French
Only two out of 60 BC school districts, SD 92 Nisga’a and SD 93 Conseil scolaire
francophone, did not offer a Core French program in the preceding school year.
Intensive French
Intensive French has been introduced in some school districts in British Columbia (Rocky
Mountain SD 6, Surrey SD 36, Vancouver SD 39 and Mission SD 75), as an innovative
approach to teaching and learning French.
In 2011-2012, 191 students in four districts were enrolled in Grade 7, 8, and 9 Intensive
French.
Online Learning
As of 2012-2013 FSL courses (Grades 6 - 12) were available online through LearnNow BC.
Enrolment statistics, and attrition rates, are unknown to CPF BC & Yukon at this time.
As of 2012/2013 of the 58 school districts that receive Federal French Funds only 15 had
active French Advisory Committees (FACs).
16
PROVISION OF PROGRAMS: PRIORITIES, INITIATIVES, RESOURCES, & TIMELINE
2013 - 2018
CPF
Priorities
5. Legislate
Core French
from Grades
5–8
New MOE
French Action
Plan
Performance
Target(s)
N/A
6. Develop a
5 Year
Strategy to
improve
and/or
replace
Core French
N/A
7. Increase
online
tutoring &
online FSL
program
availability
N/A
8. Introduce
French
immersion
programs to
BC Global
Schools
Number of FI
programs in BC
Global
Education
schools
increases by
three over a
Requested MOE Initiatives
Year
CPF Initiatives
Requested
Year
MOE
Funding
i. Pass a special Ministerial Order so that Boards of
Education must offer FSL in Grades 5 to 8 to all
students except those exempt in the order. This is
currently the policy in Ontario and has resulted in
strong Core French participation rates.
ii. Create and distribute resources to
help educate parents, and decision
makers, about the Core French
program delivery model, learning
outcomes, and the benefits of
bilingualism.
ii. N/A
ii.
Ongoing
i.
Year
2
ii. Create and distribute resources to
help educate parents, and decision
makers, about the Intensive French
program delivery model, and learning
outcomes.
ii. N/A
ii.
Ongoing
i. Commission a study on student participation and
outcomes on FSL online programs and online tutoring
modules that have proven to be effective in BC and or
across Canada.
i.
Year
1
N/A
N/A
N/A
ii. Based on the Online Learning Student Participation
study expand/improve online tutoring and online FSL
programs.
ii.
Year
2
i. Make Federal French Funds available to FSL
programs offered through BC Global Education.
i.
Year
2
ii. Bring together representatives from
the BC Ministry of Education – French
Programs & Global Education, Federal
Government, and international
stakeholders to assess the market
feasibility, logistics, and funding
available to offer FI programs to BC
ii. N/A
ii. Year 1
i. Strike a provincial taskforce on the Future of Core
French to analyze the current state of the program,
different delivery model options (i.e. Intensive),
develop recommendations and an action plan to
improve and/or replace Core French.
i.
Year
5
17
five year
period.
9. Increase
accountabili
ty &
oversight of
Federal
French
Funds
Global Education.
90% of school
districts that
receive Federal
French Funds
must have an
active FAC by
year three.
i. Require all school districts to have active French
Advisory Committees that meet at least twice a year
as a condition for school districts to receive Federal
French Funding. This recommendation was in the
original Dion Plan and has gained renewed interest in
light of Commissioner Graham Fraser’s recent audit
on the allocation of Federal French Funds by local
authorities.
i.
Year
1
ii. Re-engage the provincial FAC to review the
progress of the BC French Action Plan and funding
allocations, share best practices, and address areas
for continued improvement.
ii.
Year
1
ii. Promote and support the creation of
school district French Advisory
Committees (FACs) by providing
training and resources to CPF parent
volunteers.
ii. N/A
ii. Year 1
iii. Re-engage in the provincial FAC.
iii. N/A
iii. Year
1
STUDENT PERFORMANCE: PRIORITIES, INITIATIVES, RESOURCES, & TIMELINE
2013 - 2018 CPF
Priorities
10. Develop language
proficiency targets
and benchmarks for
FSL teachers and FSL
students.
New French Action Plan
Performance Target(s)
The Yukon Ministry of
Education, for example, has
set a B1 proficiency target
for Core French teachers and
a C1 target for FI teachers. It
also sets a target for all FI
graduates to attain a B2
based on the CEFR, and an
A2 for Core French
graduates.
Requested
MOE Initiatives
Year
N/A
N/A
CPF Initiatives
i. Create and distribute
resources to help
educate parents, and
decision makers, about
common proficiency
standards (CEFR) and
internationally
recognized assessment
tools (i.e. DELF).
Requested
MOE
Funding
i. N/A
Building On Success: Looking To The Future
CPF BC/YK 2013 - 2018 Action Plan For FSL Education in British Columbia
Timeline
i. Ongoing
18
DOMAIN: ENRICHED SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
Context
Enriched student learning is one of the most powerful ways educators, decision makers,
and parents strengthen learning outcomes, promote continued participation, and help
inspire creativity and foster cultural understanding.
This has been a domain of considerable achievement and impact during the course of
previous action plans.
Moving forward, CPF aims to continue to inspire, facilitate, and support innovative and
dynamic school-based socio-cultural programming. We know from experience that this
programming is most vibrant when we partner with local Francophone associations and
cultural groups. In the coming five years the greatest area for growth, in our opinion, is to
support FSL youth to take on a greater role in the provision of school-based socio-cultural
activities and extra-curricular programming. CPF parent volunteers, with the support of
our Branch office, have hosted exchanges, public speaking competitions, musical
performances, and many other activities for over 35 years. We know this is a curriculum
enrichment model that works very well. Looking forward, we believe FSL youth should be
connected, supported, and enabled in a very similar model.
Baseline
In 2012-2013, CPF BC & Yukon allocated $105,886 to host 71 community-based sociocultural activities that reached over 46,000 FSL students. CPF Chapters raised an additional
$97,573 in matching funds. Moreover, 145 CPF volunteers contributed 3,653 volunteer
hours to making the 71 activities a reality.
19
ENRICHED SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT: PRIORITIES, INITIATIVES, RESOURCES, & TIMELINE
2013 - 2018
CPF
Priorities
New MOE
French Action
Plan
Performance
Target(s)
11. Enrich
student
learning and
cultural
appreciation
through
communitybased sociocultural
programmin
g
N/A
12. Engage,
Connect, &
Support FSL
Youth
N/A
Requ
ested
MOE
Initiat
ives
Year
N/A
N/A
N/A
CPF Initiatives
Requested
Year
MOE Funding
N/A
i. Support CPF Chapters to host a variety of sociocultural activities that will enable FSL students to
learn, use and appreciate the French language and
culture. A focus will be placed on reach, student
learning outcomes, lasting impact, cultural value,
innovation, and Francophone/ cultural
partnerships.
i. $55,000
i. Years 1 - 5
ii. Develop and host pan-provincial activities that
will reach all quadrants of the province. Strategic
focus will be placed on activities that promote
learning outcomes, impact, innovation,
partnerships, and reach key ‘at-risk’ student
demographics.
ii. $40,000
ii. Years 1 - 5
i. Assist le conseil jeunesse francophone de la
colombie-britannique (CJFCB) to engage, connect,
and help organize FSL youth (Grades 10 – 12) into
high school chapters. The objective would be to
enable FSL youth to lead projects and initiatives
that enriches the school environment, engages
youth in FSL decision making bodies (i.e. FACs), and
create forums for FSL youth to develop leadership
skills and experience.
Year 1 - $0
Year 1 – N/A
Year 2 $30,000
Year 2 – Pilot Project
Year 3 $55,000
Year 3 - Hire CJFCB Outreach Officer.
Develop FSL high school chapters.
Total funding request from MOE for CPF
Years 1 to 5 - $95,000
Year 4 $95,000
Year 5 $95,000
Year 4/5 - Offer Socio-Cultural Grants
To FSL Youth Chapters
Total funding request from MOE for new CJFCB initiatives:
Year 2 - $30,000
Year 3 - $55,000
Year 4 - $95,000
Year 5 - $95,000
20
DOMAIN: ACCESS TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
Context
CPF promotes access to postsecondary education and works with postsecondary institutions to
encourage students to continue in FSL education through a variety of programs.
Baseline
CPF offers two $2,000 teacher bursaries each year to FSL teachers entering the teacher
workforce in our province/territory. We also have a long-standing partnership with Collège
Éducacentre to assist non-native French speaking parents with basic French language
acquisition, the program is called: French For Parents.
Priorities Moving Forward
CPF BC & Yukon Planned Initiatives
i.
ii.
iii.
Continue to offer FSL teacher bursaries.
Continue to partner with Collège Éducacentre to host and promote French For Parents.
Promote the benefits of bilingualism and showcase French postsecondary opportunities
to parents and students.
21
APPENDIX A
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED NEW TARGETED INITIATIVES
Domain: Student Participation
Study: FI Students With Special Needs
Year 3. $30,000
CPF believes FI students face unique academic challenges and have needs not being
systemically recognized. Research best practices amongst school districts in supporting FI
students with learning challenges. Disseminate key findings to stakeholders. It would be
beneficial for additional research and statistical analysis, including but not limited to,
‘baseline attrition rates of students with learning challenges in FI programs.’
What We Already Know
Canadian Parents for French (2012) Proceedings of the CPF Roundtable on AcademicallyChallenged Students in FSL Programs, Ottawa: Author
http://cpf.ca/en/files/NEW-CPF-Roundtable-Proceedings-jh-2-3.pdf
Pellerin, Martine. (2013) E-inclusion in Early French Immersion Classrooms: Using Digital
Technologies to Support Inclusive Practices that Meet the Needs of All Learners, Canadian
Journal of Education 36(1)
Mady, C., Arnett, K. (2010) A critically conscious examination of special education within
FSL and its relevance to FSL teacher education programs, Canadian Journal of Applied
Linguistics 13(1)
Activity: French For All
Year 4. $30,000
Research-based parent education campaign. Include benefits of bilingualism and facts
about students in FI with learning challenges.
Study: FI Student Attrition – Grades 7 to 10
Year 1. $25,000
Identify best practices used by school districts where FI attrition is lowest. Survey students
to identify common reasons students leave the program, and messages that are most likely
to promote continued participation.
Study: Core French Student Attrition From Grades 8 – 10
Year 1. $25,000
Identify best practices used by school districts where Core French attrition is lowest.
Survey students to identify common reasons students leave the program, and messages
that are most likely to promote continued participation. This study would complement the
FI Student Attrition research and analysis.
What We Already Know
CPF National State of French-Second-Language Education in Canada 2004/2005
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* Doug Hart conducted a study of 100 university students who shared retrospective
information about their core and alternate core experiences and factors that influenced
their decisions to complete or leave the core program.
*Doug Hart also conducted a study of 400 university students who shared retrospective
info about their immersion and core/alt core experiences and factors influencing their
decisions to complete or leave the immersion/core program
Rehorick, S. (2004) PLAN TWENTY THIRTEEN (2013) Strategies for a National Approach in
Second Language Education, Department of Canadian Heritage, Ottawa
http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/CH14-8-2005E.pdf
Activity: French For Life
Year 2. $60,000
Based on the Core French & FI Student Attrition Studies, develop a multimedia studentparent focused education campaign promoting the benefits of bilingualism and continued
FSL participation.
Domain: Enriched School Environment
Activity: French socio-cultural school-based activities
Years 1 – 5. $95,000
Host a variety of socio-cultural activities that will enable FSL students to learn, use and
appreciate the French language and culture. A focus will be placed on reach, student
learning outcomes, lasting impact, cultural value, innovation, and Francophone/ cultural
partnerships.
Activity: Engage, Connect, & Support FSL Youth
Years 2 – 5: $30,000, $55,000, $95,000, $95,000 respectively.
Assist le conseil jeunesse francophone de la colombie-britannique (CJFCB) to engage, connect,
and help organize FSL youth (Grades 10 – 12) into high school chapters. The objective
would be to enable FSL youth to lead projects and initiatives that enriches the school
environment, engages youth in FSL decision making bodies (i.e. FACs), and create forums
for FSL youth to develop leadership skills and experience.
Building On Success: Looking To The Future
CPF BC/YK 2013 - 2018 Action Plan For FSL Education in British Columbia
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