Wild Rose School Division (WRSD) has announced it will lay off approximately 50 educational assistants as of Dec. 20, 2024, due to ongoing delays in Jordan’s Principle funding. Officials say this decision follows uncertainties surrounding the federal funding that supports educational services for eligible First Nations students.
In a news release, WRSD says Jordan’s Principle, a program designed to ensure First Nations children receive crucial services, is essential for WRSD’s operations. In May 2024, WRSD says it submitted a group application for federal grant funding to support these services. Historically, grants have been approved at the regional level, allowing WRSD to offer critical educational assistance. Based on this, the division says it hired additional educational assistants for the 2024-2025 school year.
However, it says this year’s funding approval process has been delayed at the federal level, and WRSD is unable to sustain these services without the necessary funding. By the end of December, the division will have already invested approximately $750,000 to maintain these supports for Indigenous students. Despite their commitment to equity, WRSD officials say it cannot continue to absorb these costs.
“Laying off educational assistants will disrupt learning across all grade levels, from early childhood education to high school graduation,” says a letter from Daryl Scott, board chair for WRSD. “Without these supports, critical early learning foundations—which are proven predictors of long-term academic success, including high school completion rates for First Nations students—are at serious risk.”
WRSD says it is not alone in facing these challenges, as several school divisions and organizations across Canada are experiencing similar delays.
WRSD’s Board of Trustees says it is continuing to advocate for timely funding decisions from the Government of Canada, urging the public to join in supporting Indigenous children’s essential services. For more information, individuals are encouraged to contact WRSD via email at contactus@wrsd.ca.
In an emailed statement to 94.5 Rewind Radio News, a spokesperson from Indigenous Services Canada says:
Jordan’s Principle supports equal access to a wide range of health, social and educational products and services that respond to the unique situation and distinct needs of each First Nation child and the Jordan’s Principle request made on their behalf. Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine how the requested specific product, service or support meets the distinct needs of each First Nations child.
Each request is different, as well as varying in complexity. It is important to recognize that every request differs in the amount of time and effort required to review the request, and the amount of information needed to make sure the requested products, services or supports meet the distinct needs of the First Nations children.
Since 2016, nearly $8.1 billion has been announced for Jordan’s Principle to meet health, social, and education needs of First Nations children. We are working to develop processes and operations to meet the growing volume of requests. More than 8.2 million products, services and supports were approved under Jordan’s Principle since 2016.
We remain committed to implementing Jordan’s Principle and working with First Nations partners to ensure First Nation children have equal access to the public services they need.
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