Summative Evaluation of Elementary and Secondary Education - Follow-up Report Status Update as of December 31, 2014
PDF Version (48 Kb, 11 Pages)
Action Plan Implementation Status Update Report to the Evaluation, Performance Measurement and Review Committee - As of December 31, 2014
Education and Social Development Programs and Partnerships – Education Branch
| Project Recommendations | Action Plan | Expected Completion Date |
Program Response |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Develop a strategic and transparent Framework for the investment of new funds that are explicitly allocated to facilitate improvements in student success in the short term. | In Budget 2008, the Government of Canada announced the First Nation Student Success Program (FNSSP). The FNSSP supports projects aimed at improving student outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics as well as those aimed at school retention. The department's web site describes: the program objectives in detail; the assessment and selection process; as well as Program Guidelines. Pursuant to commitments outlined in Budget 2012, the Government of Canada will:
We will also invest $100 million over three years for First Nation education to provide early literacy programming and other supports and services to First Nation schools and students, and to strengthen their relationships with provincial school systems. The findings of this evaluation will be taken into account when developing options for moving forward. |
Funding commitments for the Strong Schools, Successful Students Initiative conclude in Spring 2015 |
Status: Complete Update/Rationale: Following Budget 2012, time-limited First Nation education investments were put into place to support early literacy programming and services, partnerships, and structural readiness activities through the Strong Schools, Successful Initiative. Significant resources were allocated and new eligible activities were created to specifically target interventions from K4 to Grade 3. Successful early interventions are heavily correlated with improved outcomes. The ability to monitor progress will be enhanced through Education Information System functionality. First Nation Student Success Program indicators related to standardized testing will continue to be tracked. AANDC is developing options on how to move forward on education reform beyond March 2015 by working with willing partners. AES: Close - Fully Implemented. |
| 2. Undertake further research into funding allocation methodologies that are equitable to provincial approaches, while at the same time accounting for cost realities on-reserve. | In Budget 2008, the Government of Canada announced the First Nation Student Success Program (FNSSP). The FNSSP supports projects aimed at improving student outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics as well as those aimed at school retention. The department's web site describes: the program objectives in detail; the assessment and selection process; as well as Program Guidelines. Pursuant to commitments outlined in Budget 2012, the Government of Canada will:
We will also invest $100 million over three years for First Nation education to provide early literacy programming and other supports and services to First Nation schools and students, and to strengthen their relationships with provincial school systems. The findings of this evaluation will be taken into account when developing options for moving forward. |
Fall 2014 Revised completion date: |
Status: Underway Update/Rationale: Following Budget 2012, the Government of Canada has been exploring mechanisms to ensure stable, predictable, and sustainable funding for First Nation and elementary and secondary education. As the Department explores alternative options for advancing education reform, work will continue on improving the funding allocations methodologies that support First Nations education. AES: Revised completion date. |
3. Ensure that future policy and program exercises develop clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities for Elementary and Secondary Education. |
In Budget 2008, the Government of Canada announced the First Nation Student Success Program (FNSSP). The FNSSP supports projects aimed at improving student outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics as well as those aimed at school retention. The department's web site describes: the program objectives in detail; the assessment and selection process; as well as Program Guidelines. Pursuant to commitments outlined in Budget 2012, the Government of Canada will:
We will also invest $100 million over three years for First Nation education to provide early literacy programming and other supports and services to First Nation schools and students, and to strengthen their relationships with provincial school systems. The findings of this evaluation will be taken into account when developing options for moving forward. |
Fall 2014 Revised completion date: September 2015 |
Status: Underway Update/Rationale: AANDC is developing options on how to move forward on education reform beyond March 2015 by working with willing partners. AES: Revised completion date. |
| 4. Explore and pursue options for the comprehensive development of second and higher-level services where possible and appropriate to reduce administrative burden and overhead costs, while supporting First nations in developing long-term capacity for service management. | In Budget 2008, the Government of Canada announced the First Nation Student Success Program (FNSSP). The FNSSP supports projects aimed at improving student outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics as well as those aimed at school retention. The department's web site describes: the program objectives in detail; the assessment and selection process; as well as Program Guidelines. Pursuant to commitments outlined in Budget 2012, the Government of Canada will:
We will also invest $100 million over three years for First Nation education to provide early literacy programming and other supports and services to First Nation schools and students, and to strengthen their relationships with provincial school systems. The findings of this evaluation will be taken into account when developing options for moving forward. |
On-going and, where applicable, funding commitments for the Strong Schools, Successful Students Initiative conclude in Spring 2015 | Status: Update/Rationale: Time-limited funding announced through the Strong Schools, Successful Students Initiative in Budget 2012was intended to support the development of organizational capacity for the delivery of 2nd level education supports and services, and was administered through the Education Partnerships Program (EPP) and First Nation Student Success Program (FNSSP). Following the launch of the 2014-2015 Directed Interim Call for Proposals to support the Structural Readiness activities leading to First Nations choosing and agreeing to pursue one of two governance models, including a First Nation School Board or joining with a provincial aggregate under the Strong Schools, Successful Students Initiative, funding was recommended for Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC), Treaty Six Education Council, Saskatoon Tribal Council, Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre (MFNERC), Bimose Tribal Council, and Tshakapesh Institute. The Department also developed the Education Organization Planning Tool (EOPT), designed to support regional First Nation organizations in reflecting on current priorities, mapping assets, assessing needs, and building a Capacity Development Plan. The resulting Plans have been used to access funding to support and strengthen the capacity of organizations in the delivery of education programs and services to band-operated schools. AES: Close - Fully Implemented. |
| 5. Work with First Nations to develop strategies to strengthen culture and language retention as it relates to better student outcomes. | In Budget 2008, the Government of Canada announced the First Nation Student Success Program (FNSSP). The FNSSP supports projects aimed at improving student outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics as well as those aimed at school retention. The department's web site describes: the program objectives in detail; the assessment and selection process; as well as Program Guidelines. Pursuant to commitments outlined in Budget 2012, the Government of Canada will:
We will also invest $100 million over three years for First Nation education to provide early literacy programming and other supports and services to First Nation schools and students, and to strengthen their relationships with provincial school systems. The findings of this evaluation will be taken into account when developing options for moving forward. |
Fall 2014 Revised completion date: September 2015 |
Status: Completed Update/Rationale: The existing Elementary and Secondary Education program provides funding for activities which support culture and language learning and counselling. Further, the existing Cultural Education Centre Program funds cultural education centres through the national and regional offices as well as through the First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres. Funding for 2014-2015 has all been allocated. AANDC is developing options on how to move forward on education reform beyond March 2015 by working with willing partners. AES: Underway. Good progress on project based funding strategies. Further progress on strategies to be made as part of broader education reform. Revised completion date. |
6. Examine the implications of integrating support for early childhood education in AANDC's education portfolio. |
Concur in part Early childhood education and adult education are under the mandate of Health Canada and HRSDC, respectively. To the extent that integrating early childhood education and adult education fall within the mandates of other departments, the recommendation raises a machinery of government issues that are beyond this Department's abilities/authority to change. To the extent possible, the department will work to develop early literacy programming, high school retention and active measures to ensure that the coverage of the various departments' responsibilities is coordinated. |
Fall 2014 | Status: Complete Update/Rationale: AES: Close – Fully Implemented. |
| 7. Examine the implications of integrating support for adult education in AANDC's education portfolio. | Concur in part Early childhood education and adult education are under the mandate of Health Canada and HRSDC, respectively. To the extent that integrating early childhood education and adult education fall within the mandates of other departments, the recommendation raises a machinery of government issues that are beyond this Department's abilities/authority to change. To the extent possible, the department will work to develop early literacy programming, high school retention and active measures to ensure that the coverage of the various departments' responsibilities is coordinated. |
Fall 2014 | Status: Complete Update/Rationale: To the extent possible, the Department is working with Employment and Social Development and other Departments to examine programming for adult education and skills development through the renewal of the First Nations Youth Employment Strategy. As an effort to develop high school retention, the Department is working with Health Canada on options to ensure First Nations youth who attend FN Youth treatment centers get access to educational services. This will continue as the Department continues its education reform activities. It is noteworthy that the actions of provinces, in adult education, on and off reserves, also have to be taken into account. AES: Close – Fully Implemented. |
| 8. Develop a strategy to work with First Nations in building the capacity to strengthen the provision of special needs assessments and services. | In Budget 2008, the Government of Canada announced the First Nation Student Success Program (FNSSP). The FNSSP supports projects aimed at improving student outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics as well as those aimed at school retention. The department's web site describes: the program objectives in detail; the assessment and selection process; as well as Program Guidelines. Pursuant to commitments outlined in Budget 2012, the Government of Canada will:
We will also invest $100 million over three years for First Nation education to provide early literacy programming and other supports and services to First Nation schools and students, and to strengthen their relationships with provincial school systems. The findings of this evaluation will be taken into account when developing options for moving forward. |
Fall 2014 | Status: Completed Update/Rationale: The existing Special Education Program includes direct and indirect funding intended to improve special education programs, including certain costs related to professional development. The findings of this evaluation will be taken into account as the dialogue on education reform continues. AES: Close – Fully Implemented. |