Initiatives undertaken by individual teachers for projects that affect only their classrooms are not eligible to submit a proposal.
All demonstrations of innovative teaching and learning are eligible to be part of the Innovation Inventory.
Initiatives being submitted for the Innovation Partnership should address the following (if applicable):
- How the whole school is supporting the innovation;
- Willingness to partner with post-secondary research teams;
- Demonstrated willingness to take risks, learn from experiences;
- Include community, inside and outside of the school;
- Regrouping of students, regrouping of educators or rescheduling of time;
- Diversity of students, voices, and perspectives;
- Integration of a B.C. Aboriginal perspectives;
- Student ownership of learning; and,
- Collaborative professional learning.
Yes. The IPWG recognizes that proposals take time to develop; however, the Innovation Inventory and Innovation Partnership have different purposes and submission criteria.
We also recognize that schools are at varying levels of readiness to share their innovative programs and practices, so two separate opportunities were developed to ensure those not yet ready to apply for the partnership – and those who do not want to participate in the partnership – can still showcase their work in the inventory.
There is no pre-determined number of participants. The IPWG will review proposals on file after each intake date and make participation approval decisions.
The IPWG will be reviewing the proposals and making participation decisions. The IPWG consists of the following education partner groups:
- BC Teachers’ Federation,
- BC School Superintendents Association,
- BC Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association,
- Federation of Independent School Associations of BC, and
- Ministry of Education.
Schools accepted into the Innovation Partnership will have access to a number of supports and opportunities, including:
- Connection with a post-secondary research project.
- Engagement with likeminded schools/districts doing similar work.
- Sharing of your school’s story with the rest of the province.
- Possible exemption to policy /regulation.
- Resources to help defray the costs associated with research connections, travel, etc.
Innovation may require stepping outside of the current regulations and policies that the Ministry of Education has in place for the K-12 education system. A school, district or independent school authority may apply to have a regulation or policy waived for a specific period of time in order to have more latitude to implement an innovative practice.
For example, you may wish to implement a different reporting structure for students, or look at assessment alternatives.
Your proposal should make reference to the regulation(s) or policies that may need to be waived; this would require further discussion with the Ministry of Education should you be selected into the Innovation Partnership.
Proposals cannot seek waivers or exemptions for terms negotiated through applicable collective agreements, as neither the IPWG nor the Ministry of Education have authority to waive provisions of the agreements in place.
Expectations of schools participating in the Innovation Partnership include:
- Participating in action research and collaborative inquiry.
- Enabling educators to participate in the provincial Innovation Partnership through collaborative involvement.
- Participating in focus groups on personalized learning.
- Participating in shared learning experience through visitation of other Innovation Partnership schools.
- Welcoming other schools and government representatives to observe and learn from your innovation.
- Communicating the schools’ innovation.
- Advocating for learning transformation and personalized learning.