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Ministry Regulations for Homelearning in BC

Increasingly, families are choosing to take responsibility for their children's education. The desire for learning to be more relevant for an individual child, or wanting a different social or academic experience are some reasons people choose other learning environments.
Whether based on religious convictions or not, whether moving away from an unworkable situation or wanting something better, families want more of their values reflected in the learning experience, and less separation of life and learning, while respecting their child's knowing. Prior to 1989 homeschooling was not a legal choice, although many people were doing it. They became inspirations for each other, and this tradition continues as families give their time and experience for new homeschoolers, as well as informing politicians.

Currently, home-based educational programs in BC take two forms: enrollment or registration.

A Registered Child is one whose program is parent directed and facilitated. No BC certified teacher is involved, the learner is not required to follow the BC curriculum, no official reporting is required, and there is no automatic qualification for a Dogwood Diploma.

An Enrolled Student may participate in a paper-based program offered through public Distance Education Schools, a “Distributed Learning Program” offered through a public school district, or an Independent School Distributed Learning Program. Enrolled students work with BC certified teachers and are required to report on their work.

Technically, a Registered Child is considered home schooled, while an Enrolled Student is not. For more information on the difference between "Distributed Learning" (enrollment) and Homeschooling (registration), see http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/dist_learning/dl_vs_homeschool.htm

The SelfDesign HomeLearners Network registers homeschooled children, while the SelfDesign Learning Community is one of several independent Distributed Electronic Learning enrollment programs. (There are approximately 50 public electronic programs.) For more information on SelfDesign's unique philosophy, visit www.selfdesign.org

Some Links:
Provisions regarding home schooling may be found here: The School Act.
Further information may also be found at: The Ministry of Education