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Autism Q & A

Online Learning, Alternative Learning and Homeschool 

September 1, 2023

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School Options in BC 

Public School 

In-person (IP) schools, often referred to as “brick & mortar” or “B&M,” public schools are your local school(s) open to all students. Offering K-12/13 education some school districts also offer Strong Start programs for children under age 5. 

Public schools can offer in-person classes, online learning, and blended models between the two. Typically, if you live in an area with a neighbourhood school, that is called your ‘catchment’ school. If you desire your child to attend a school outside of your catchment area, you need to apply for cross-boundary registration and enrollment in the school depends on the availability of designated spaces for your child’s grade.   

Application for cross-boundary is typically on a year-to-year basis with no guarantee of acceptance even if your child or a sibling attended the school in the previous year(s). Some schools operate under a lottery system rather than a first-come, first-serve waitlist. Cross boundary will consider how many designated spots are in your child’s grade and if there is space for any additional designations, priorities are always for in-catchment registrations.  

In BC, the Ministry of Education uses an Inclusive Education approach. You can read more about your child’s rights to inclusive education here in the 6th edition of the InclusionBC Parent Handbook: Parent Handbook on Inclusive Education – Advocacy Resources, Inclusive Education – Inclusion BC 

 
Independent School 

Independent schools are regulated by the Independent School Act and overseen by the Ministry of Education. Independent schools offer Online Learning (OL), and some have brick-and-mortar locations as well. 

Private Schools also fall under the Independent School Act and can be operating as secular or non-secular.  Acceptance into private schools with a designation is dependent on the school’s ability to support your child’s needs. If you are exploring private education, our best advice would be to connect with other families in the area who have an autistic child who attends the school and what their experiences have been. Private schools do have the right to deny your child acceptance into their program if they feel they cannot support your child adequately.  

Find out more about private school options and costs:  Private Schools – Autism Funding in BC (asdfunding.com) 

Education Options in BC 

Homeschooling (Click for Homeschooling Policy)

“Homeschooling is typically led by a home educator (a parent or guardian) who delivers an educational program to a child at home. Home schooling is offered outside the BC education system. Homeschoolers are not eligible to receive a Dogwood diploma unless they’ve achieved all 80 required credits. B.C. Certificate of Graduation. 

Homeschooling programs are not: 

  • Supervised by a B.C.-certified teacher 
  • Required to meet provincial standards 
  • Inspected by the Ministry of Education

—Government of BC 2021 

Sometimes referenced as unschooling, homeschooling students are not registered with government-accredited schools. Their educational programs are not regulated by the Ministry of Education and students are not eligible for designation funding. From the Homeschooling Procedures and Guidelines Manual: In the case of a registered homeschooler, parents are choosing to opt out of an array of specialized supports and expertise that enrolled students with disabilities or diverse abilities benefit from, and it is the parent/caregiver’s responsibility to provide the homeschooled child/youth with an appropriate and supportive educational program. 

By law, all children in B.C. must be educated, making it necessary for homeschooled children to be registered. 

Parent/guardian(s) who choose to homeschool must register their child by September 30 of each year. Contact a B.C. school to complete the registration process: 

  • Public school – Public school principals register homeschoolers. Contact the school district office to learn more about its homeschooling policy. 
  • Independent school – Independent schools may determine whether the school registers homeschoolers. Contact the school to learn more about its homeschooling policy. 
  • a francophone school, or 
  • an online learning school (See Online Learning Policy) 

 

Online Learning 

Online Learning – OL (formerly Distributed Learning) is offered by both public and independent schools. 

Online Learning schools are BC Ministry of Education or government-funded schools that offer choice in how the BC curriculum is delivered to students who choose to learn outside of a regular “brick and mortar” school. 

 OL programs are: 

  • Supervised by a B.C.-certified teacher 
  • Required to meet provincial standards 
  • Inspected by the Ministry of Education 

“Both public and independent online learning schools offer online classes. Students in Kindergarten to Grade 7 must take a full course load at one school, while students in Grades 8 to 12 may learn from home entirely or learn at school and take some courses online.” Government of BC 2021 

The dual enrollment is called a blended learning approach. 

Starting in spring 2023, you can choose one of the following options: 

Option 1: Sign up with a local or an independent school that offers online learning 

  • Contact your school district to find out about local online learning schools or available online learning options at a neighbourhood school 
  • Contact an independent online learning school, or find out if an independent school near you offers any online learning options 

Option 2: Sign up with a provincial online learning school 

  • Provincial online learning schools will offer a wide variety of programs and courses to all students in B.C. 
  • Find an Online Learning school to sign up for programs or courses.

Learn more about the 2023 online learning changes, which were implemented on July 1, 2023.  Online Learning Policy – Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca) 

To learn more about Online Learning and Provincial Online Learning Schools: Home | Online Learning BC 

When to Enroll? 

If you are starting your school journey and entering Kindergarten, enrollment usually begins in January or February for the school year beginning in September of that year. You can help this transition go smoothly by: 

  • Before the first day, try to visit the school and tour your child’s new classroom.  
  • Meet with school staff and share your child’s strengths, needs, interests, and difficulties. 
  • Ask about the necessary support and materials your child needs 
  • Involve your current support team in this transition 
  • Contact the District Inclusive Education staff member for your area. District staff typically work through the summers or return a couple of weeks ahead of the start of the school year.
  • Check out our Back to School Planning Blog for more tips. 
  • If you are starting at a new school or changing schools mid-year enroll as soon as possible. Even while not taking full enrollment information most schools will have a waitlist for students, often accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis as spots become available. You can be on several waitlists. However, you are often required to have an address within the local area.   
  • If you live within a school’s catchment area, they are often obligated to enroll your child. However, sometimes you can be waitlisted if they are at capacity with designated students.   
  • If you live outside a school’s catchment area enrollment will be subject to space and available resources.   
  • Many online learning schools open enrollment as early as February and many of the larger independent schools do have waiting lists for their programs that have access to designation funding.  
Funding 

If you have a student with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, the Ministry of Children & Families (MCFD) gives the Ministry of Education (MoE) access to funds as autism funding changes at the age of six years old. While these funds are not targeted at individual students, they are intended to support inclusion. This funding is defined as Special Needs Level 2, Autism Spectrum Disorder, category G designation. See K-12 Funding – Inclusive Education.

 

How do schools use the funding they receive from the Ministry of Education? 

Public School Districts: 

Public school districts use what is described as a pooled funding method. All funding goes into a general pool for all schools and each district will ask for the resources and support they need for their schools and students. Communication with your school team, participation in the IEP process, and support with advocating is important to ensuring your child’s needs are being heard and addressed. The designation funding does not guarantee direct educational assistance to your child, so it is also important to discuss the level of support you feel is needed for your child with the school team. Many Districts are currently facing budget shortages, so it is vital to be vocal for your child as support may be limited. 

 Independent Schools: 

Although some Independent schools may use a pooled funding method similar to the public system, most often, a portion of the funds received for a student is assigned as a budget to assist in providing support and resources necessary to reach goals outlined in a student’s IEP. The budget amount will vary depending on the school, expense decisions are made as a team and must directly relate to IEP goals.  

All school-based funding designation funding disbursement happens twice a school year in the fall & winter terms.  

The online learning school options, allow parents/caregivers more control and flexibility on how the funds can be spent and what types of support will meet the child’s needs for the year. The funding allocation is typically set up as part of the IEP. 

 Public Online Learning Schools: 

 

When choosing an independent school it is also important to learn if they are secular or non-secular and if this aligns with your family’s values.

Independent Online Schools in BC: 

Full list here: Support Resources | Online Learning BC 

View Details for all Provincial online learning schools.

Learning Centres:  

If a child is enrolled in an online learning (OL) or blended program such as NIDES, the program may also operate in an in-person Learning Centre (Nuko). Some Learning Centres are through Behaviour Intervention Agencies and are paid as Behaviour Intervention/Consultation, such as (Claro, Let Me Be Me, PivotPoint, Gateway Behaviour Services, Excel, etc.)

Learning Centres operate under the Ministry of Education Inclusive Education Funds (Special Needs Designation funding) and potentially the funds from the child’s autism funds through MCFD, Child & Youth with Support Needs (CYSN). The annual Autism Funding of $6,000 can be paid to the Learning Centre for fees. This means if you choose to allocate all your AFU funds to a Learning Centre, you will likely not have funds outside of the Learning Centre program for support.  

Families that chose to not use the child’s autism funding to cover the additional costs may pay in the range of $500-600 monthly or $6,500 annually, per each Centre’s fees.  

Many Learning Centres operate under the Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) approach to education and intervention and have Behaviour Interventionists (BIs) as their Educational Assistant staff rather than Teachers. The BIs report to the Learning Centre’s Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) and must also submit the child’s curriculum work and progress, based on IEP goals, to continue to receive MoE OL funding for the child at the Centre. The BIs also work closely with the OL Teacher/Learning Consultant (Self Design, Ebus, Nides, etc.) assigned to the student to ensure they are meeting student goals and learning outcomes.  

The support ratio is typically 3-to-1 student to adult and the learning structure can be academic mornings and then social/ community outings afternoons.  

Many of these Centres run Monday through Friday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm and follow their local school district calendar timetable. 

Learning Centres may be a great alternative for families that have exhausted their public school options for their children and have struggled with school exclusion. We do hear from families that have found greater success and less exclusion in the Learning Centre approach to education.  

For caregivers who are employed full-time, a Learning Centre may reduce the barrier to continuing their employment versus having a child at home for their learning. Connecting with other families enrolled in a particular Learning Centre is your best way to know if it may be the right fit and approach for your child and their support needs. Please ensure you discuss the learning pathways with each Learning Centre to understand if your child can obtain a Dogwood Diploma or an Evergreen Certificate. Learn more about these options below when we discuss the graduation pathways.  

It‘s important to note here that although the learning centres need to say they us BIs and BCBAs, the centre may not formally practice the ABA methods. It is up to the parent to do their due diligence when researching these centres. 

Learning Centres: 

Lower Mainland: 

 

Vancouver Island: 

Interior: 

  • Chris Rose Centre (Kamloops)
    • School-based program for ages 5-12 
    • Individualized plan 
  • Claro Learning Centre
    • Semi-private pods with 3:1 ratio (4:1 in senior) 
    • Has a “portal” (sensory room) 
    • Cozy nooks 
    • OL through Kleos 
    • Taught life skills and receive academic support from mentors 
    • Individualized plan 
    • Runs 9am-2:15pm 
    • Cost $10,500 per program year (accepts AFU) 
  • Class of West K 
    • Accepts students from K-12 
    • Uses pods with 3:1 ratio 
    • Helps students learn in their own way 
    • Partnered with Kleos, but open to working with other schools 
    • Uses the full $6000 from AFU, plus $450 monthly per child 
    • Operates Monday-Friday, 9am-2pm 
  • Cranbrook – Pivot Point Learning Centres (ABA-based)
    • $7000 (full year), $3500 (half year) (takes AFU) 
    • Can choose OL 
    • Two rooms: one for K-5 and the other for grades 6-12 
  • Insight Support Services – Kamloops (Waitlist)
  • Kamloops – Pivot Point Learning Centres (ABA-based)
    • $7000 (full year), $3500 (half year) (takes AFU) 
    • Can choose OL 
    • Mix of students ages 6-17 
  • Penticton Excel – Centre for Exceptional Learning
    • Partnered with EBUS 
    • Operates from 9am-2pm Monday-Friday 
    • $6500 for the year (accepts AFU) 
  • SalmonArm – Pivot Point Learning Centres (ABA-based)
    • $7000 (full year), $3500 (half year) (takes AFU) 
    • Can choose OL 
    • Current students ages 11-15, but welcoming students from K-12 
    • Newer centre 
  • Vernon – Pivot Point Learning Centres (ABA-based)
    • $7000 (full year), $3500 (half year) (takes AFU) 
    • Can choose OL 
    • Anticipate majority of students ages 6-16 
    • Two floor heritage house 
  • Vista Academy (ABA-based)
    • In-centre homeschooling 
    • Can choose DL 
    • IEP and full-time ABA therapy 

Northern BC: 

 

Alternate Public School Options by School District in British Columbia 

SD5 South Kootenays:

SD6 Rocky Mountain:

SD8 Kootenay Lake:

SD10 Arrow Lakes:

SD19 Revelstoke: (if you want to share resources for this district, please email us at [email protected])

SD20 Kootenay-Columbia:

SD22 Vernon:

SD23 Central Okanagan:

  • Dual Credit
  • eSchool23 (grades 6-9 & 10-12, includes blended learning option) 
  • Central Programs and Services
    • Central Student Worx
    • Take a Hike Program
    • Okanagan College Gateway Program (click here to learn more about the below options)
      • PROGRAM CERTIFICATES:
        • An OC Student Participation Certificate
        • FoodSafe Level 1 Certificate
        • Construction Safety Training Certificate
        • Forklift Operation Certificate
        • Level 1 First-Aid Certificate
        • WHMIS Certificate
      • TRADES COVERED IN THE PROGRAM:
        • Carpentry & Joinery
        • Plumbing
        • Electrical
        • Drywall / Painting
        • Insulating/Vapour Barrier
        • Roofing/Flooring
        • Automotive
        • Welding
        • Collision Repair
        • Culinary Arts

SD27 Cariboo-Chilcotin:

SD28 Quesnel:

SD 33 Chilliwack:

SD34 Abbotsford:

SD35 Langley:

SD36 Surrey:

SD37 Delta:

SD38 Richmond:

SD39 Vancouver:

SD40 New Westminster:

SD41 Burnaby:

SD42 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows:

SD43 Coquitlam:

SD44 North Vancouver:

SD45 West Vancouver:

SD46 Sunshine Coast:

SD47 qathet (Powell River):

SD48 Sea to Sky:

  • Programs of Choice (not available at all schools)
    • French Immersion
    • Hockey Academy
    • Soccer Academy
    • Cycling Academy
    • ACE It (Cooks Training, Carpentry, Automotive, Electrical)
    • Outdoor Recreation Leadership
    • Ski, Bike and Board Academy
    • Cultural Journeys (K-Gr. 6)
    • Learning Expeditions (Gr. 7-12)

SD49 Central Coast: (if you want to share resources for this district, please email us at [email protected])

SD50 Haida Gwaii: (if you want to share resources for this district, please email us at [email protected])

SD51 Boundary:

SD52 Prince Rupert:

SD53 Okanagan Similkameen:

  • ca (distributed and adult learning)

SD54 Bulkley Valley:

SD57 Prince George:

SD58 Nicola-Similkameen:

SD59 Peace River South:

  • Dual Credit (click here to learn more about the below options)
    • Dual Credit Trades Programs:
      • Aircraft Maintenance Engineering
      • Automotive Service Technician
      • Carpentry Foundation (Enhanced)
      • Cook, Professional
      • Construction Electrician Foundation
      • Esthetics and Nail Care Technology
      • Hairstyling
      • Heavy Mechanical Trades Technician
      • Millwright/Machinist Foundation
      • Oil and Gas Field Operations
      • Piping Trades/Plumber Foundation (Enhanced)
      • Power Engineering
      • Trades Sampler
      • Welding
    • Academic and Vocational Programs
      • Applied Business Technology
      • Business Management
      • Early Childhood Education and Care
      • Health Care Assistant 
      • Indigenous Human Services Worker Certificate
    • Apprenticeships (Youth Work in Trades)
    • Work Experience
    • French Immersion
    • Montessori

SD60 Peace River North:

SD61 Greater Victoria:

SD62 Sooke:

SD63 Saanich:

SD64 Gulf Islands:

SD67 Okanagan Skaha:

SD68 Nanaimo-Ladysmith:

SD69 Qualicum:

SD70 Pacific Rim:

SD71 Comox Valley:

SD72 Campbell River:

SD73 Kamloops/Thompson:

SD74 Gold Trail: (if you want to share resources for this district, please email us at [email protected])

SD75 Mission:

SD78 Fraser-Cascade:

SD79 Cowichan Valley:

SD81 Fort Nelson:

SD82 Coast Mountains:

  • Career Programs(click here to learn more about the below options)
    • Youth Train in Trades
      • Automotive Service Technician Foundation
      • Professional Cook 1
      • Hairstylist Foundation
      • Heavy Mechanical Foundation
      • Carpentry Foundation
      • Welding Foundation
      • Millwright Foundation
      • Electrical Foundation
    • Youth Work in Trades
    • Work Experience
  • French Programs
  • Parkside Alternate Secondary

SD83 North Okanagan-Shuswap:

SD84 Vancouver Island West:

SD85 Vancouver Island North:

SD87 Stikine: (if you want to share resources for this district, please email us at [email protected])

SD91 Nechako Lakes:

SD92 Nisga’a: (if you want to share resources for this district, please email us at [email protected])

SD93 Conseil scolaire francophone: (if you want to share resources for this district, please email us at [email protected])

 

Acronyms 

  • DL Distributed Learning (Now Online Learning) 
  • OL Online Learning (Formally Distributed Learning) 
  • IDL Independent Distributed Learning 
  • IOL Independent Online Learning 
  • OSP Online Service Provider 
  • IOSP Independent Online Service Provider 
  • IDL Independent Directed Studies 
  • IEP Individualized Education Plan 
  • HS Homeschooling 
  • HL Home Learner 
  • PLO Prescribed Learning Outcomes 
  • BCAGD Adult Graduation Diploma Program 

Peer Support  

Resources  

General  

 

Did you know there are many ways to join in the conversation on the changes to online learning? Check out these resources: 

BCEdAccess  

Protect BC IDL and DL Schools – Facebook Group  

 

Do you have something to contribute? Or see something that needs correction or updating? Contact us. 

AutismBC

Further Reading

Facing Ableism in the School System

September 3, 2021

Facing Ableism in the School System My name is Cole Lawrence and I prefer identity-first language like autistic person. I was diagnosed with autism at […]

, ,

A Guide to Individual Education Plans (IEPs) in BC

September 20, 2021

The start of the school year new to an autism diagnosis can stir anxiety and leave you with a lot of questions about how your […]

, ,

Back to School Planning

July 14, 2022

After much effort, you’ve finally settled your child into a summer routine, and now you have to start transitioning them back to school!

, ,

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