CBC News
‘Huge problem’ still exists for dyslexic learners
“The screening results are not being written on report cards.”
A CBC video highlights continuing barriers for dyslexic learners. For families and caregivers, the central question is whether children can get effective reading support in their own schools.
CBC News
“The children and their parents suffer.”
A new Vancouver dyslexia centre is planned for 2027, but advocates question why families and caregivers must seek help outside public schools. Parents and caregivers describe paying for tutoring and private education. The story asks whether children can get effective reading support regardless of family income, and reports that schools are expected to support students before a formal diagnosis.
CBC
Families, teachers push back against SD8 Indigenous education changes in Nelson schools
“Kids from all different backgrounds come in, and it’s just a safe place.”
Families, caregivers, and teachers in Nelson fear losing trusted relationships, academic support and teacher-led cultural learning as SD8 replaces dedicated Indigenous education teaching positions in elementary schools and one middle school with support workers. District and Indigenous Education Council representatives say the model will strengthen belonging and family connections. Families and caregivers question what will be preserved and how they will be involved in decisions.
Global News
‘We didn’t know why they were struggling’: Vancouver dyslexia centre focuses on early support
“About 20 per cent of the population has dyslexia, 80 per cent go undiagnosed”
A new Vancouver centre plans support for dyslexic learners and teacher training.
Victoria News
Board says superintendent, senior leadership at Greater Victoria School District on leave
Greater Victoria’s reinstated school board reported that senior leaders were on leave while it examined changes to district policies and spending. The board said arrangements were in place for the school year to begin normally. For families and caregivers, the story raises questions about transparency and who is accountable for decisions affecting students.
The Tyee
Chair of BC’s Human Rights Tribunal Quits in Frustration
“We’ve got kids with disabilities whose needs are not being met at school”
Tribunal chair Emily Ohler announced she would leave early, citing inadequate resources and growing demands. A human rights lawyer described how delays leave disabled children without timely help at school. For families and caregivers, the story shows why having a complaint process means little if a remedy arrives years after the harm.
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Why is the BC government targeting Victoria’s elected school board?
“Meanwhile, students continue to lose programs and supports.”
In this commentary, former school board chair Patti Bacchus argues that removing Greater Victoria’s elected trustees undermined local accountability and diverted resources from students. After the province reversed its decision, she calls for an explanation of the costs and decision-making. For families and caregivers, the issue is who answers to their community when school policies are contested.
The Tyee
Firing Victoria’s School Board Was an Abuse of Power
“Victoria students and parents have had no elected school trustees for more than a year”
In this opinion piece, Paul Willcocks criticises the province’s removal of Greater Victoria’s elected school board and its handling of court-ordered disclosure. He argues that families and caregivers lost elected representation while officials pushed for police to return to schools. The piece connects student safety decisions with transparency, local democracy and public accountability.
CHEK News
SD 61 trustees reinstated, Province concedes court case
“We’re relieved to get to this point, but also extremely concerned”
Greater Victoria’s elected trustees returned to office after the province conceded their court challenge following failures to disclose relevant messages. The province agreed to overturn their dismissal and pay legal costs and back pay. Families and caregivers regained elected representatives, while questions remained about how decisions over police in schools had been made.
The Tyee
As Classroom Pressures Grow, VSB’s Increase in Management Staff Sparks Criticism
“The money spent on senior management could be going to the students”
The Tyee found that Vancouver’s senior administrative staffing had nearly doubled over a decade while enrolment fell slightly. Educators questioned those spending priorities as some classroom services faced cuts, including support for visually impaired students. For families and caregivers, the story raises a practical question: how do budget choices translate into help their children actually receive?
CBC News
Burnaby school district faces $9.4M shortfall after labour arbitration
“If the province is bargaining on behalf of all 60 school districts, it should be funding those agreements that it makes”
Burnaby warned that a $9.4-million retroactive teacher pay bill could force further cuts unless the province funded it. The board argued that students should not lose services because of how a provincially negotiated agreement was interpreted. For families and caregivers, the concern was whether money owed to staff would come out of classroom support.
The Tyee
Why Was a Former School Trustee Fined $750,000?
This explainer examines a human rights decision against former Chilliwack trustee Barry Neufeld over discriminatory conduct and hate speech targeting LGBTQ2S+ people. The tribunal ordered compensation for affected educators. For families and caregivers, the story shows how school leaders’ public statements can harm the people who make up a school community, and how accountability can take years.
The Tyee
How School Counsellors Help Kids Through Tough Times
“The diagnosis doesn’t change the level of support that the child needs.”
School counsellor Norberta Heinrichs explains how counsellors support children, collaborate with families/caregivers and teachers, and connect people with community services. She describes shortages and workloads that limit access, especially in elementary schools. For parents and caregivers, the interview explains what counselling support can contribute and why children need help based on their needs, not only a diagnosis.
The Tyee
The Struggle to Support Kids with Disabilities in BC’s Classrooms
“Excluding kids and youth from school because of a lack of support for their inclusion has negative impacts on family and caregivers.”
Students are forced to miss school. EAs face stress and injuries. More training and outside help may be the answer.
CBC News
Police returning to Greater Victoria schools with mandate to build trust, chief says
Police liaison officers returned to Greater Victoria schools after a two-year pause. Officials described a focus on relationships and safety, while the human rights commissioner called for stronger evidence about the programme’s effects. Families and caregivers expressed differing views, showing why school safety plans need to account for students who feel reassured by police and those who feel unsafe.
The Tyee
BC Government Quietly Kills $20-Million School Affordability Fund
BC ended a fund that helped schools cover supplies, fees, field trips, and other costs for families and caregivers facing financial pressure. Districts had used it to remove barriers to participation. For parents and caregivers, its loss raised concerns about paying for school essentials and whether children would miss opportunities because their families could not afford them.
Global News
Surrey DPAC on hybrid learning in Surrey schools
“The bottom line is that Surrey is facing such a space crunch that things like this and the extended day are options they are turning to because there are not physical spaces.”
Surrey DPAC president Anne Whitmore discusses hybrid learning and what overcrowding means for families and caregivers. Although the program is currently opt-in, Whitmore and the host consider whether it could expand to more students, including younger children. They briefly discuss the challenges of gaps in students’ schedules around in-person classes, but do not address how the model could affect disabled children’s access to education and support.
Institute for Public Education / BC
Not enough funding has cost me everything
“When we underfund inclusion, we don’t save money—we just move the bill.”
In this personal essay, parent Anna Geeroms describes how delayed and withdrawn school support harmed her children and placed lasting costs on her family. She argues that inclusion needs stable staffing and practical support before children reach crisis. The piece connects classroom exclusion with the work, health, and financial pressures families and caregivers carry.
Anna Geeroms took over as Chair of BCEdAccess in Sept 2025
Richmond News
Column: Teachers, parents sound alarm about services for students
“Families with financial means can access timely and effective supports. Families without those means are left waiting or are forced to watch their children fall further behind.”
Highlights concerns from teachers and parents/caregivers about services for students. For families and caregivers, the issue is whether the help children need is available in practice and what happens when it is missing.
CityNews Vancouver
Autistic Nanaimo student returns to class after family fights medical exclusion
“Exclusion harms families and doesn’t benefit society.”
An autistic Nanaimo student returned after months out of school, but his family still had to push for a better support plan. His experience shows why ending an exclusion must include providing the support a child needs to participate and learn.
Kim Block was quoted about the harm exclusion causes children and families; the article also referenced BCEdAccess’s Exclusion Tracker.
