Yes, There are a total of nine English public school boards in Quebec. Other boards in the greater Montreal area are; Lester B. Pearson School Board (West Island), Riverside School Board (South Shore) and the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board (Laval).  For a full list of Anglophone school boards in Quebec, please visit the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) website.

This information can be found in the Admissions section of our website. If you have a specific question you can contact a representative who will be happy to help you.

Visit Admissions

This information can be found in the Registration section of our website. If you have a specific question you can contact a representative who will be happy to help you.

Visit Registration

Yes. The Before and After School Enrichment (B.A.S.E.) daycare program is a government funded day supervision service, organized outside class hours for preschool and elementary school children. B.A.S.E. provides a program of activities in keeping with the needs of the child in a safe environment supervised by qualified staff. More information can be found in the B.A.S.E. Daycare Services section of our website

Visit Daycare

This information can be found in the Transportation section of our website. If you have a specific question you can contact a representative who will be happy to help you.

Visit Transportation

The EMSB's Outreach Network is designed to provide an opportunity for students who have left school before graduation to return to a different educational setting. The system is designed to help students continue their studies in a less formal atmosphere. Some programs will lead to sufficient credits for a high school leaving certificate, while others will permit the student to return to a regular high school setting. In some cases, the student will be prepared for entering the workforce. Visit the Outreach Network website for more information.

Outreach Network

If your child is over 16 years of age and meets the required prerequisites at the Secondary III or IV level he/she may choose to register in a Vocational Program offered by one of our Vocational Centres. He/she may also choose to complete secondary school at any time by attending classes in one of our Adult Education Centres or through distance education. Visit the Adult Education and Vocational Services website for more information.

AEVS Website

Yes, our Student Services Department organizes and provides educational services for students with special needs at the pre-school, elementary and secondary levels - whether they have handicaps, social maladjustments or learning disabilities - with the hope of integrating them into regular classroom settings.  More information can be found in the Special Seeds section of our website.

Visit Special Needs Network

The EMSB Social Affairs network of schools provides a complete education, as well as the full range of complimentary services to children and teenagers who are unable to attend regular schools and must remain in hospitals or youth protection centres. Our schools work closely with Integrated Health and Social Services Centres (CISSS) and Integrated University Health and Social Services Centres (CIUSSS).

Yes, families who reside within the territory of the EMSB may apply for a home schooling contract.  Visit the Home Schooling section of our website for more information on the application and evaluation process.

Home Schooling

Le Comité de gestion de la taxe scolaire de l'île de Montréal (originally known as the School Council of the Island of Montreal), which was created as a result of legislation adopted by the government of Quebec, on February 28, 2003. Under the terms of the Education Act , the Comité de gestion de la taxe scolaire de l'île de Montréal is responsible for the administration of the long-term debt of the five school boards of the Island of Montreal, contracts loans on behalf of the school boards, fixes the school tax rate, collects and distributes the tax to the school boards.

This information can be found in our French Programs section of the website. If you have a specific question you can contact a representative who will be happy to help you.

French Programs

School boards are local democratic institutions that oversee pre-school, primary, secondary, adult academic and vocational education for both youth and adults on their assigned territory. Each school board in Quebec is governed by a council of commissioners all of whom are publicly elected through general elections which take place every four years.

Along with educating the population, their task also involves offering a variety of services to the community. They carry out a mission of prime importance, one which lies at the very heart of any community’s development.

Yes, our Adult Education and Vocational Services (A.E.V.S.) offers both academic and vocational courses for individuals 16 years and older.

Please visit the A.E.V.S. website for more information on how to register for a program of your choice.

AEVS Website

What Is the EMSB doing to advocate for their families regarding the new guidelines set forth by the minister which have our children in large class sizes, wearing no masks and not social distancing? (New)  

The EMSB is continuously advocating for families, for our students, as well as for our employees. We do so through regular communications with Ministry of Education officials in either formal or informal circumstances – either directly or through our associations. 

This being said, not only are we required to follow the back-to-school guidelines determined by the Ministry of Education, as well as by public health authorities at the Ministry of Health and Social Services, but we also believe that the decisions behind the guidelines unveiled on Monday, August 10, were made by some of the leading experts in Quebec on these matters. Nonetheless, every school and every class are in a unique situation and it is the responsibility of the EMSB and of each of our schools to ensure that the measures in place are tailored to every circumstance and situation. We take that responsibility extremely seriously.

The Back-to-School 2020 directives by the Ministry are included in this Newsletter. Keep in mind that these guidelines could change.

As far as the plan for individual schools, it will be communicated the week prior to the first day of school. The guidelines will include information such as: entry, transition time, scheduling, classroom operation, specialist classes, recreational time, lunch, dismissal, bussing, daycare services, etc.

The Ministry of Education announced that students who have a medical note confirming that they or a family member have a health problem will be entitled to online learning from home. A list of conditions which will indicate what will be accepted for an exemption from school is forthcoming. Furthermore, doctors will have to follow this list before issuing medical notes. There is a protocol being developed by the Ministry of Education and the EMSB cannot act before we receive further guidance on this issue. Parents are asked to hold on to any medical notes until the EMSB receives clear guidelines on what will be accepted. An online learning platform will only be provided once the child’s or parent’s condition is deemed valid for exemption, as per the protocol being developed.

(Updated) Some students may have trouble adjusting to this new back-to-school experience. Will there be a clear protocol/ structure of support put in place?

The Student Services department will be working in collaboration with school teams, principals and Regional Directors to put in place a well-planned support system for students who are having difficulty adjusting to their new reality.

Main entrances and exits will be monitored to ensure physical distancing is respected. Schedules may also be adjusted to minimize bottlenecks and gatherings (e.g. access to the recreation yard).

Multiple school entrances may be used to allow a less congested flow of traffic into the building. Example: grade 1-3 will use the south entrance and grades 4-6 will use the north entrance.

Any modifications to arrival and dismissal times may vary from school to school. Those details will be communicated to parents before the start of classes.

In the event of a second wave or the occasional closure of schools, a minimum level of service will be provided so that all students have access to proper distance learning. This will promote equity among distance education services, ensure that teachers and non-teaching professionals are available to meet the various special needs of students, and lay the foundations for the work to be provided to students. The minimum number of hours of distance education will vary according to grade level.

For more information, please visit: https://www.quebec.ca/en/education/back-to-school-plan-fall-COVID-19/ (Updated on August 12)

Grade 5 and 6 students will be required to wear a face covering when they move around the school, when they are in shared areas, in the presence of students from other groups and when they use school transportation. Although face coverings will not be mandatory for students from preschool up to Grade 4, students can wear them in school and on school transportation vehicles.

In high schools, face coverings are mandatory for students outside classrooms and in common areas or in the presence of students from a different group. Face coverings are also mandatory when students are using school transportation or taking public transit.

Personal protective equipment (mask and visor) will be mandatory for preschool teachers and daycare educators. In the classroom, staff members at other levels of education are not required to wear face coverings if they remain 2 meters away from students. However, they must wear face coverings at all times when moving around the school.

During supervision of a student showing symptoms, the designated staff member must wear a procedure mask and protective eyewear (protective glasses or visor). If the staff member must have physical contact with the student or pupil, the staff member must also wear an over-garment (gown) and gloves.

(New) What happens to a child who contracts COVID-19 or becomes symptomatic; how will their education be followed and continued from home?

When a COVID-19 case is confirmed, Santé Publique takes charge of the situation. With the help of the school, who keeps an attendance/close contact registry, Santé Publique will instruct the school on the steps to be taken and who will be contacted (close contacts). The results of the Santé Publique investigation will make it possible to determine whether the people who have been in contact with the symptomatic person will be asked to isolate for a set duration of time and when they can return to school or continue to self-isolate for a longer period of time, if starting to exhibit symptoms. 

If a student has tested positive for COVID-19, Santé Publique will investigate the case and send home the student(s) that could be at risk. It is not necessarily all the students within a classroom that will be sent home. 

Students at home will be treated as any student who is home sick in any other circumstance. Work will be provided. Children who cannot return to school due to health issues will continue to receive an online education at home and a medical note will be required. More information will follow once we receive updated directives from the Ministry of Education and Santé Publique.

(Updated) As children seem to show few symptoms or are asymptomatic: how will the spread of COVID-19 be kept under control with an obligatory return to school? We are concerned that students will spread COVID-19 to parents, who will go to work asymptomatic and spread it even further to people who could suffer serious consequences. Seeing the spread of the virus amongst young people has been high over the summer, will the government rethink some of its strategies? Will children need to stay at home if they have a cold that could possibly be COVID-19? 

Students and staff will be responsible for the validation of their health on a daily basis. Parents will have to be responsible to validate the health of their children on a daily basis and to communicate any symptoms to the school. 

Students or staff members with COVID-19 symptoms will not enter the school. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will have to comply with a 14-day isolation period. 

Administrators will receive training on how to react to any potential case of COVID-19 before the start of classes 

Parents will have to keep their children at home if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (fever, difficulty breathing, coughing) until they can confirm that it is not COVID-19 related. If students and staff respect the social and physical distancing rules as well as practicing frequent hand washing and proper respiration etiquette, the risk should be low.  Parents and schools are jointly responsible to raise awareness when it comes to proper hygiene.   

Based on past experience, albeit on a smaller scale, we had no reported cases of COVID-19 in our emergency daycares and in the schools that we reopened in the spring.  On a positive note, the reopening of the Mackay Centre and Philip E. Layton Schools with the most vulnerable students was a success a positive experience for the students who returned.

Furthermore, sanitation measures are being implemented in schools, as per Santé Publique recommendations. The Material Resources department will be responsible to ensure that regular and appropriate maintenance will take place.

Cleaning will be conducted by our trained staff and in accordance with disinfecting guidelines; washrooms will be disinfected at intervals depending on the frequency of use, and frequently touched surfaces will be disinfected (doorknobs, faucets, toilets, computers and pencils/pens).

At this time, we are not aware whether the Ministry of Education will reconsider their plans nor whether they will enforce any new directives for the start of the school year.

Not at this time, there will not be any testing done in schools. Like the rest of the population, students who are experiencing symptoms must stay at home and contact a health care professional.

(Updated) What is the plan if a student is ill and needs to stay home to get tested for COVID-19? Will the student require a medical note to return to school? 

Regardless of the test results, if a child has a fever, he or she should not be going to school.

Anyone displaying symptoms should call 1‑877‑644‑4545 and follow their instructions on how to proceed. The school is to be contacted by the parents and is to be provided with the details of information they receive.  A student would not be going back to school until supporting documents/instructions from the COVID-19 line is provided and/or a negative test result is received.

Access will also be refused to any person who resides with an individual exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, who is under investigation and waiting for test results or who recently was diagnosed with COVID-19. Proof of residency may be required.

(Updated) If a child from within the same classroom tests positive, will all parents be notified? If a child in the school tests positive, will all parents of the school be notified? What is the acceptable threshold before the school closes again?

When a COVID-19 case is confirmed, Santé Publique takes charge of the situation. With the help of the school, who keeps an attendance/close contact registry, Santé Publique will instruct the school on the steps to be taken and who will be contacted (close contacts).

Decision to close a school belongs with Santé Publique.

The results of the Santé Publique investigation will make it possible to determine whether the people who have been in contact with the symptomatic person will be asked to isolate for a set duration of time and when they can return to the educational institution or continue to self-isolate for a longer period of time if starting to exhibit symptoms.

Access will be refused to any person who resides with an individual exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, who is under investigation and waiting for test results, or who was recently diagnosed with COVID-19.

We ask and expect that the parent contact the COVID-19 line (1‑877‑644‑4545) and follow their instructions. The parent is also to contact the school to communicate same information and provide the instructions provided by the COVID-19 line.

Should a parent need to be tested, the children are to remain home until results are received. Supporting documentation may be required.

If a specialist teacher (including gym teachers/music teachers/librarians/daycare staff) contracts COVID, do all students he or she taught need to stay home and quarantine for 14 days?

Most likely no. If any employees demonstrate symptoms they are to contact the COVID line. If they are at school when symptoms appear, they are to inform their school administrator and leave the school and contact the COVID line. After the employee contacts the COVID line and is provided with further instructions, the employee is to contact the school principal to communicate the instructions received. It is to be noted that all employees are required to maintain the 2 metres distancing at all time with students and other staff members. When this is not possible, employees are to wear the appropriate PPE to protect both themselves and others around them.

There are no restrictions on opening windows. Fans can be used as long as there are not directly facing individuals. Fans can face away from students and staff so as to let air circulate.

All subjects will be taught. With regards to music, for example, the theory will take place at school and the practice will take place at home. There will be no sharing of instruments or blowing into instruments. Keyboards or other instruments not using mouth may be shared when disinfected.

Physical education classes will take place outdoors whenever possible. Equipment will have to be sterilized between each use. The Phys. Ed. consultant will be working closely with the schools to create activities that respects the social distancing.

Some pedagogical programs and extracurricular activities may be possible, depending on the nature of the physical distancing measures required.

What measures and resources will be put in place to ensure cleaning and sanitation of surfaces, bathrooms, etc.? At what frequency?

Washrooms will be cleaned and disinfected every day depending on the frequency of use.

Cafeterias tables and chairs will be disinfected before and after every use. Microwaves will not be available.

Door knobs, faucets, toilets, computers and commonly used equipment will be disinfected every day, depending on the traffic.

(Updated) What is the entry/exit routine the government has asked you to apply or you have decided to apply? Will parents need to sign a form? Will their temperature be taken? Will hand washing or sanitization stations be peppered around the school?

Main entrances and exits will be monitored to ensure physical distancing is respected.   

Schedules may be adjusted to minimize bottlenecks and gatherings (e.g. access to the recreation yard).

Hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the school in key areas (bathrooms, cafeteria, classrooms) and at every entrance to ensure that hands are sanitized upon arrival and before departure each day. 

Health self-assessment questionnaire are posted at every entrance indicating not to enter if symptoms are present as well as social distancing reminders. 

Parents will be advised of their responsibility to assess their children’s health daily and to ensure they wash their hands before leaving for school. 

Temperature checks will not occur. This practice is not recommended by CNESST or Santé Publique.

Movement in the school will be reduced to a minimum. Corridors will have signage to abide by the distancing and proper direction.

Will children be eating at the same tables? Who will be supervising them? Who will be sanitizing those same tables after lunch is over? Will hot lunches no longer be provided? Will they be allowed hand sanitizer at their tables/desks?

Schools will decide whether students eat at their desk or use the lunchroom. The number of supervising staff will be adjusted accordingly. The lunch periods may be adjusted to reduce and control movement and waiting line in cafeteria, if necessary and applicable. The use of pre-paid meal cards will be encouraged to promote cashless payments.

If students eat in their classroom, the students will clean and disinfect their desk before and after eating. If they use the lunchroom/cafeteria, students will remain in pods as much as possible and maintain a distance of 1m with students from other pods and 2m with lunch monitors and cafeteria staff. The tables will be cleaned and sanitized before, between and after meals by the cafeteria and caretaking staff.

The hot lunch and cafeteria services will be available.

Hand sanitizers will be available in each classroom but students may bring their own should they prefer.

Every school will operate differently and the individual school plans will be shared with parents the week before the start of the school year as school teams are still in the prep stages.

Before students and staff return to school, all caretakers will receive a training session on sanitary measures to be implemented during COVID-19, required preventative disinfection measures, and proper tools and methods on how they are should be used. When possible, extra caretaking staff will be assigned and sent to schools and centers to assist the preventative disinfection in addition to the regular caretaking staff.

Regular cleaning will be conducted by our trained staff and in accordance with disinfecting guidelines; washrooms will be disinfected at regular intervals depending on the frequency of use, and frequently touched surfaces will be disinfected (door knobs, faucets, toilets, computers and pencils/pens).

Students in bathrooms must respect the 1m distance and max occupancy may be established to ensure compliance with the social distancing measures.

Plexiglas is already being installed where required when physical distancing is difficult or not possible. In addition, all schools will have movable Plexiglas panels to use where and when the need arises in the school.

Has the EMSB offered training to teachers and staff on new CPR and first aid measures that are adapted for the COVID reality? If not, does it plan to do so?

First aiders will use gloves, a mask and eye protection (goggles or visor) and a gown, if necessary. All our schools are equipped with a defibrillator to be used in place of CPR. Each school has trained staff in first aid.

Do you have schools that will not be able to achieve the required social distancing measures and will therefore have to send some students elsewhere? If so, which schools?

Schools are preparing to receive their own students. If the need arises, we may have to look at relocating some groups of students.

Schedules will have to be adjusted if possible in order to reduce the number of students who enter and exit facilities at the same time (e.g. one group, level or cycle at time, based on the situation of the school): at the beginning of the day and during meals, breaks and recesses.  Groups will have to maintain physical distance when moving in the hallways and while in common spaces.

Travel in the hallways will be in one direction at a time (creation of one-way lanes by using specific markings, for example) or arrows will indicate what side of the hallway or staircase to use.

Movement to and the use of specialized rooms will also need specific organization in order to  minimize the use of these rooms by different groups during the same day, perhaps by scheduling the extended use of a given room by the same group, for example) and allowing for the cleaning of these rooms between groups.

Each school will operate differently. Individual school plans will be shared with parents the week before the start of the school year as school teams are still in the preparatory stages.

Teaching outdoors will be safer than indoors (for schools with large enough outdoor spaces). Can the EMSB give directives to schools to maximize time taught outside and give principals guidance as to how this could be achieved?

Teaching outdoors has always been an option for teachers providing safety of the students and staff is assured.

Could the Board allocate more money to schools in order to invest in outdoor teaching spaces? Could this money be rushed to be available this fall?

The allocation of funds for 2020-2021 have already been assigned. As such, funding for new projects would not be feasible at this time. Many schools have outdoor teaching spaces. Where feasible, others can create environments where instruction could take place outdoors.

The two main platforms being used are Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom. Teachers were provided with training on these two platforms since they will continue to be the online teaching tools of choice in the current school year. Over 2,000 synchronous professional development sessions were attended by EMSB teachers from May 11th to June 28th. The sessions were provided by both EMSB educational consultants and outside organizations. Google Classroom is the most widely used Digital Learning Platform in the EMSB.  We currently have an average of over 1,500 teacher classrooms which service over 9,000 students, a significant increase since the beginning of the pandemic. The “TEACHING STUDENTS 2020 STYLE” website was designed by our EMSB consultants to provide support and professional development opportunities for online teaching to all of our teachers. 

(New) What measures have been put into place to address remote learning if a second wave of re-confinement occurs? And how quickly will these measures be implemented? 

Teachers were provided with training on the use of online teaching tools and strategies. The “TEACHING STUDENTS 2020 STYLE” website was designed by our EMSB consultants to provide support and professional development opportunities for online teaching to all of our teachers. In addition to all of the training, EMSB and school administrators have prepared protocols that could take effect immediately if re-confinement is declared. In order to be better prepared, teachers and students will simulate/practice online learning while in class. This will provide students with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the platform and the guidelines. As a result, students will be more comfortable if online teaching becomes necessary later on.

(New) What are the standardizations that will be put into place to ensure that each school receives the same level of education for remote learning?

All teachers are required to respect the guidelines established by the Ministry of Education. This will include covering the content of the program as well as the minimum number hours recommended for each course and grade level provided remotely. Please see this link for more information: https://cdn-contenu.quebec.ca/cdn-contenu/adm/min/education/publications-adm/dossier/plan-rentree-2020.pdf?1597078763

Homeschooling in Quebec is managed by the Direction de l’enseignement à la maison (DEM) which is part of the Ministry of Education. Parents must apply to home school their children via the government’s website http://www.education.gouv.qc.ca/en/school-boards/support-and-assistance/homeschooling/

The contact information is: 

Direction de l’enseignement à la maison
Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur
600, rue Fullum, 11^e étage
Montréal (Québec) H2K 4L1

514-787-3583 ext. 5265
1-866-747-6626
Fax: 514-864-8921

Parents can apply to home school their child(ren) at any time during the year.

Once the DEM has approved the application, parents can request certain services (e.g. textbooks, evaluations, diagnostic services from a psychologist or speech and language therapist or an occupational therapist or a special education consultant) from their local school board or service center.

(Updated) Although some parents are anxious for in-person schooling to commence, many parents are very fearful of sending their kids back to school in person and don’t approve of school being obligatory - they feel parents should have a choice under the circumstances. In Calgary, families and teachers in high risk situations can choose online learning for the full school year. Taught by teachers (high risk, at home) using Google Classroom, Google Meet. We ask that the Quebec government offer something similar.

Based on the Ministry of Education directives, it is compulsory for all students to be physically present at school, unless they are exempt because of a medical condition, note that a medical note must be provided.

For parents who want to keep their children at home there is the option of homeschooling.  If the Ministry of Education changes its directives and allows parents to choose whether or not to send their children to school, we will have to plan accordingly.

(Updated) For children who cannot return to school due to health issues, how will they continue to receive an education while at home? Could this not be extended to parents who do not want their children physically back at school (due to a fragile grandparent or parent or other)?

Children who cannot return to school due to health issues, will continue to receive an education at home. This will be extended to parents and grandparents provided they share the same address (proof of residence may be required).

(Updated) If the Ministry of Education allows parents a choice on the physical return to school, does the EMSB have any ideas as to how it could continue teaching those children not physically in school online? 

If the government allows parents a choice, it will have to provide us with the adequate resources to hire additional teachers.

(Updated) How do you plan on ensuring high school students continue to have the same quality of education when they’re in school and online?

There are currently no online teaching options available, unless the student has a medical condition and provides a medical note.  If there is another school closure, teachers will be providing distance learning. 

The professionals from the Student Services department will continue to ensure that the services for the students with special needs will be maintain in school and online.  The Student Services department multidisciplinary team assigned to each schools will continue to have regular meetings with the school team.

In the fall, schools should leverage one Learning Management System (LMS). Google Classroom and/or Teams will be the only LMS that educational services department will support. The reasoning behind choosing one LMS is:

• A single access point to discussion threads and assigned work.
• A single programme to store all students’ work in a paperless format.
• A tracking mechanism to identify students struggling with assigned tasks.
• Simplified grading features.

The Ministry of Education does not dictate learning platforms used by school boards. The Ministry of Education may request a "Teams" meeting when speaking with EMSB management, for example, but does not get involved in the choice of learning platforms.  

In the Youth Sector, the EMSB predominantly uses Google Classroom and will now also use "Meet", which is the videoconferencing/chat tool that works seamlessly with Classroom. With the availability of Google Meet, the use of Zoom and Teams as video-conferencing tools are no longer needed.

In the Adult Sector, however, the learning and communications/collaboration platform used is Microsoft Teams.

Will all schools be following a standard online teaching protocol?

• Fixed number of hours of instruction per teacher/subject dependent on grade?
• Requirement for all subjects to be taught, as in a regular school week?
• How will tests/assessments be undertaken?

If online teaching needs to be reinstated at a school, within a class or a bubble group, we ask that you impose a minimum number of hours per core subject required, based on grade level. Will you do that?

It will be more structured and a minimum number of hours depending on the subject and grade level seems reasonable.

Some parents are suggesting no books be brought home from school and that Google classroom be set-up from day one, where all work could be done. Could this be feasible?

It will be strongly recommended that Google Classroom and/or Teams are set-up in an aim to develop a routine for both teachers and students. However, that being said, we must allow teachers some flexibility depending on grade level, etc. We must also make sure to follow Canada’s Copyright laws, hence posting of workbook material may not be possible. The EMSB has begun discussions with the various publishers that we collaborate with to determine how to best support the students. Example PEARSON/ERPI has informed us that schools who buy a workbook will receive a code to access electronic version (It will be given directly to the schools).

If, for whatever reason, school is to be mandatory, can it be on a rotating basis (one grade per day) to limit exposure, have less children per classroom, to be able to learn all subjects at school, then have an online platform with resources to help with homework the rest of the week?

In Quebec not only do children have the right to go to school, but they are required to attend, unless the MEES is prepared to make modifications all students will be required to attend school full time unless homeschooled.

(Updated) If an online platform cannot be achieved (limited computer supply, etc.), can we use television instead of the internet to provide lessons to the children. Pre-recorded programs for the children to watch, pause, re-watch, in the event that they are sick and cannot come into school? Like a pre-recorded program for each grade, each subject (Math, French, English, Science) province-wide (or city-wide for English/French Immersion). 

Educational content was created by Télé-Québec, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education during the school closures in the spring. However, an English equivalent does not exist.

If school remains obligatory and the government refuses or is unable to provide at-home teaching, some parents may choose homeschooling. Can the Board accommodate a sudden rise of homeschooling requests?

The school board can currently accommodate 1500 homeschoolers. Should an increase in homeschooling requests require us to revisit the number of staff members looking after this dossier, we will do so at the time. Note that homeschooling is conducted by parents and not a teacher. Attached is the link for all homeschooling documents. http://www.education.gouv.qc.ca/en/school-boards/support-and-assistance/homeschooling/

If a parent decides to homeschool their child, but during the course of the year schools close again due to a second wave, can homeschooled students rejoin the school to benefit from online learning?

This would not be possible as the student would not have been assigned to a class nor have been provided with a schedule to follow.

If a child is being homeschooled, can parents change their mind during the course of the year and have the child return to school at any time?

Yes they can change their mind, but registration would not be automatic. Parents would need to contact their local school and register or in some cases re-register their child.

For students currently registered or attending schools that have specific entrance requirements or programs (entrance exam, Sport-études), if the parents decide to homeschool the child because of COVID fears, will the child lose their spot at that school? Will they have to undertake the entrance exam or audition again to gain re-entry for the following school year?

Provided that the program the student applied for has not been revised, if a student qualified they should not be required to write another entrance exam or audition to gain re-entry.

We understood in a recent La Presse article that some 80,000 students in Quebec still did not have access to technology for online learning. How many students within the EMSB are still lacking the necessary tools and internet connection to distance learn? How will this be addressed?

We supported schools by helping them prepare equipment for loan, as well as providing loan forms and a loan tracking system. We know that the parents of 1030 Youth Sector students indicated that their child did not have a computer and we are pleased to report that our records indicate that 943 loans were made. The inventory of our schools is not depleted and there is additional equipment that may be loaned. We also noted that the parents of 108 students indicated that their household did not have an internet connection. There were 32 other cases where the students had a computer but no internet. In response, the EMSB bought 200 LTE (Internet) enabled iPads and offered them to schools for loan. Thus far, approximately 40 such iPads were loaned out and despite the fact that the

Telus free internet plan ended at the end of June, the EMSB is still providing internet to those iPads. Parents whose children still do not have a laptop or tablet at home that could be dedicated to online learning should contact their school principal who can arrange a loan in the fall.

IT will conduct a survey with regard to Equipment Needs.

Yes, they will be used as long as the surfaces are properly sterilized between each use. The proper products are available to schools.

Regarding bus services, if all students who have been refused bus service now have to find their own transportation to school, what will that do to the morning drop-off traffic? Will they still be providing daycare services for those parents who will need extra time to get to work afterwards?

Schools will be implementing safety procedures for the drop off area in the morning and after school. The school administrator will be communicating with parents on how to proceed for the drop off / pick up area.

Parents can register their child(ren) in the BASE program in the month of August.

No more than two students can be seated on the same bench, bringing the number of students who can be on board a school bus at the same time to 48. 

• Siblings should be seated together.
• The same two students should remain seated together on the same bench every day, if possible.
• Wearing face-coverings while in the vehicle is strongly recommended for students from preschool to grade 4, inclusively.  It is mandatory for students in grade 5 and 6 and secondary school. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer may be made available to students at the entrance of the vehicle.
• The vehicle will be fully cleaned after transporting each group of students.

School bus drivers will have access to the necessary personal protective equipment (e.g. mask, visor). The installation of a physical Plexiglas barrier could be an additional option to ensure everyone’s safety. 

If they are able to bring their children to school themselves, parents will once again be encouraged to do so.

Before the first day of school, if there is enough space on the bus, all students who are eligible for busing will be assigned a bus pass.

On August 24, a second transportation survey will be sent out to parents asking them if they wish to request an accommodation bus pass for their child(ren). If there is enough space on the bus, these students should be receiving an accommodation bus pass after September 30^th. If there is not enough space on the bus for all the requests submitted, a selection of students will be required, younger students will have priority over older students.

As of July 13th, anyone travelling by public transportation must wear a mask. To this date, the STM has not added extra busing services during morning and afternoon runs.

School Organization sent a survey with regards to bussing in July asking parents that are eligible for transportation if they will be requiring busing in September. Once all eligible students have received transportation, if there is any available space on the bus, we will start looking at accommodation request (younger to oldest). This survey will be sent on August 24.

Yes, these programs will continue. The same safety guidelines as during the day will be respected.

Will the bubble groups be maintained during daycare and extracurricular activities? How will bussing impact the composition of bubbles?

Whenever possible, the bubble groups will be maintained during daycare and during extracurricular activities. If this is not possible, the 1m distance between students will have to be respected.

No more than two students can be seated on the same bench. This directive ensures the 1m distancing rule between students. For children in the same household, 3 students per bench in permitted.

How many EMSB teachers will be missing due to health issues that could be aggravated by COVID? Will these teachers be asked to teach online?

It is too soon to determine how many teachers will be reporting to work. Every case will be evaluated individually.

What plans are in place to minimize the movement of service providers (psychologists, childcare workers, speech language pathologists, etc.) and substitute teachers from one school to another?

Most professionals will work with school teams at a distance. Assessments of students can take place. If the physical distance of 2 meters cannot be respected, the staff member must wear the appropriate protective equipment, a procedure mask and eye protection (e.g. safety glasses or visor).

Portable Plexiglas’s will be available in the schools and can be used by the professionals or any other staff member who comes in close contact with students (i.e. Secretary who gives out the late slips).

Will the schools have specialists (childcare workers, speech language pathologist, OT, behaviour techs) in the class with the teachers?

Sp. Ed Techs and Childcare attendants will be in the classes with the students. They will be assigned to the same classroom and will wear protective equipment if the 2-meter physical distance rule cannot be applied. For the professionals assigned to more than 1 school, they will be available at a distance in order to avoid movement from one school to another.