| I've sent the following answer to Jackie by mail ... but for anyone
else interested. .... It is QUITE long
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> Does anyone have any information about the Canadian education system?
I think I can answer some of this! We moved to Colorado from Canada a couple
years ago
> what ages children start school, is this the same across the country?
School in Canada is under the control of each province, who set standards for
local education boards. The standards are MODERATELY uniform, but not entirely.
Most provinces require that a child be in a formal plan of education from age 6.
Note that this includes homeschool. Some provinces I believe say age 7.
Canada, like the USA uses grades ...
Children would usually enter school at 6 years old in Grade 1 and would progress
to Grade 12.
Most school boards in most provinces offer a 5 year old Kindergarten
Some school boards in some provinces offer a 4 year old Junior Kindergarten
Some provinces offer a Grade 13 as a Pre-college / university type year
> Do parents need to pay for childrens education? (if so, how much)
Education is paid from property taxes. If you rent a home, the home owner
pays property taxes essentially on your behalf. (I had heard something
vaguely about visitors in some provinces having to pay some tuition, but
this is news to me ... it would be hard to administer for starters.)
> How does a person register a child for a school?
>
> Is there somewhere to approach to get information about schools in a
> particular area?
>
> Can parents choose a school or does the government/education ministry
> select on parents behalf?
Depending on *where* you live, you may have up to 3 different school
boards ... The Public school system, a Roman Catholic separate school system
and a Roman Catholic French Language system. Unless you are a practicing
Roman Catholic, generally you cannot enroll your children in a separate
school. (There are exceptions)
The schools in most places are "neighbourhood schools". As such you cannot
'select' a public school under normal circumstances. This is generally not a
problem as there is very little difference in school quality, although there
are exceptions! If you move into (and I don't really want to sound snobish
here but ...) a moderately new or a moderately "business / professional"
neighbourhood, chances are the schools will be good.
To register, you take your child to the school office closest to you as soon
as convenient after you move in ... No-one is going to pounce upon you for not
registering your child in a hurry! Generally the child will start that day.
They have all the necessary forms etc. Be prepared to take the child's
immunization certificate with you. You can call your local school when
you arrive for the necessary paperwork. It is not a complex process.
In some neighbourhoods, schools may be full particularly in brand new
neighbourhoods, and your child may be bussed to a fairly nearby school. THis
is becoming more rare, since many towns/cities are requiring developers to
build a school as a part of the development.
Generally schools are fairly small like English schools (I was eduacated part
in England, part in Canada) ... 300- 400 being typical. Very large schools
like in the US are rare.
Some exceptions to school placement ...
Your child will be babysat by someone closer to another school
You want your child to attend a school close to your work
You want your child to attend a school which offers special courses ... such as
French Language immersion.
Note that except in areas which are notedly bilingual, if you want your child
to attend a school outside your residential catchment area, you will be
responsible for transporting your child to school. If you are in the catchment
area of a distant school, and are further than about 2 miles, the school will
usually provide bussing.
NOTE that the province of Quebec has a number of significant laws regarding
languages and immigrants and schooling. Note that unless you or your husband
were educated *in Canada in English*, you will be required to send your child
to a French language school (private or public). To be educated in England in
English or the USA in English doesn't give you the exception
Schools generally start around early September in a 3 term system like England,
except some high schools that have adopted the American 2 semester system.
School ends mid to late June. There are no "half terms" like England, although
there are odd individual days for "Professional Development". Most elementary
schools start at 9 am to about 3:30 (Grades jk/k/1 through 6/7/8) High Schools
(grades 7/8/9-12/13) start between 8 and 9 depending on the townand the amount
of bussing that has to be done. Some areas have middle schools for grades 6
and or 7 and or 8 (also called Junior High schools) although they have gone
somewhat out of fashion in many areas.
There is a long answer to most of your questions ... IF you can be a little
more specific about where you are going, you can write to me directly at
CSC32::BROOK and I'd be pleased to answer any more questions ... I'm
sure you must have questions like about standards!
Stuart
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