DEVELOPMENT OF THE K-S4 AGENDA

Government began consultation on the K–S4 Agenda in the 2000–2001 school year. Minister Drew Caldwell outlined six priorities in a letter sent to education partners in July 2000. These priorities are to:

1. improve outcomes especially for less successful learners;
2. strengthen links among schools, families and communities;
3. strengthen school planning and reporting;
4. improve professional learning opportunities for educators;
5. strengthen pathways among secondary schools, post-secondary education and work; and
6. link policy and practice to research and evidence.

These priorities were selected because:

• They build on research and evidence about how to improve our schools and contribute to improved student success. The priorities are consistent with the overall goals of Manitoba Education, Training and Youth and Manitoba Advanced Education to improve learner outcomes, expand the range of people served, integrate and support knowledge and skill development, increase the capacity across institutions and the community to support learning, and build upon partnerships within and across the education and training sectors;

• They complement the work already being done in many schools, in post-secondary education, in the Manitoba Training Strategy, as well as in other provincial initiatives such as Healthy Child Manitoba, Lighthouse Programs and Neighbourhoods Alive; and

• They foster collaboration among education partners both within and across school districts. Provincial priorities should recognize differences in local circumstances, and recognize the potential contributions of students, parents and communities as well as teachers, support staff and administrators.

Each of the priorities is intended to guide our future work by building on past successes and stretching our capacities to achieve even more.

Developments in 2001

In March 2001, the Department released a discussion paper titled An Education Agenda: Kindergarten to Senior 4. This was followed by seven regional sessions. For these meetings, school divisions were invited to send teams that included students, parents, teachers, administrators, school board members and other community representatives. At these meetings, there was discussion of the Agenda as well as local concerns and initiatives related to the priorities. More than 400 people participated in this consultation process.

Regional sessions culminated in a provincial conference in May 2001. Over 250 people from across the province came together to talk about public education. About half of those present had also attended a regional meeting, while the other half included not only educators but also a wide variety of people from business, community groups, faculties of education, universities and colleges and others with an interest in education.

In October 2001, the Minister met with trustees, superintendents, teachers, parents and students. All of these discussions helped to build consensus on the content and direction of the Agenda.

Developments in 2002

In 2002, the Department continued to work closely with school divisions to embed the priorities into school and division planning processes with a clear focus on student outcomes. The Department’s website has been redesigned to provide comprehensive information on the status and plans for each of the priorities. On May 11, 2002, a provincial conference on K–S4 Agenda: Building Effective School Communities was sponsored by the Department with over 150 Manitobans participating in a discussion of the six priorities and celebrating the many excellent initiatives taking place in our schools and school divisions.

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