British Columbia Certificate of Graduation

Yukon Education follows the curriculum and graduation requirements of British Columbia (BC). The curriculum requirements include:

• literacy and numeracy foundations
• essential learning
• core competencies

The curriculum sets out essential learning standards and “Big Ideas” for each course, and what students are expected to know, be able todo and understand at each grade. To graduate, you must meet the specific course requirements. For more information on the B.C./Yukon curriculum requirements see visit BC's Course Curriculum web page.

At all grade levels, it is critical that parents/guardians and advocates of students:

• Understand how students are performing in the critical areas of literacy and numeracy.
• If students are not meeting grade expectations in literacy and numeracy, ask for and have input in a support plan to help the student catch up.
• If students are exceeding grade expectations in literacy and numeracy, ask for and have input in an enhancement plan to keep the student interested in these areas.

When students start high school with significant gaps in learning, it can reduce the choices they have.

Elementary school is designed to teach students to read. Students LEARN TO READ in elementary school. By high school, the system is designed for students who have literacy and numeracy skills which allow them to learn further. Students READ to LEARN in high school. If students enter high school without literacy and numeracy skills, they are sometimes put in “alternative” programs to try and support them, but there is little standardization of support. This makes high school a very difficult transition.