Eligibility for English school

Are you having a problem acquiring a Certificate of Eligibility for your child to attend English School in Quebec?

If you are, then I may be able to help you. After years of experience working with families of "special needs children" and children with "adaptation and language issues", I have acquired an expertise in writing a specialized psycho-social report which has resulted in families acquiring this eligibility, and in other cases, these reports have resulted in a previous refusal being overturned, based on humanitarian reasons, as a result of my report If it is your priority for your child to attend English school, but the government has said NO. I can help you to change that NO into a YES !

The section I am referring to is:

Children with severe learning disabilities as defined in the government regulation made under section 81 of the Charter are eligible for instruction in the English Language.

Contact me for more details

The following is from The Western Quebec School Board

Eligibility for English Language Education in Quebec

Registration to English Schools in Quebec

Parents are asked to register children directly through their community school.
If your child has a Certificate of Eligibility for English Language Instruction please bring this, as well as the birth certificate showing the names of the father and the mother. Government regulations stipulate that you bring the original documents or certified true copies. You should also bring the most recent report card. A Medicare card, and when required, a report card should be provided as well.

If your child does not have a Certificate of Eligibility you must apply for one at the time of the child's registration in your community school.

Eligibility

• Under the Charter of the French Language, children in the following two categories may be enrolled in English-language schools:
• Permanent residents of Québec who qualify for a certificate of eligibility for instruction in English.
• Those who are living in Québec temporarily and qualify for a temporary authorization to receive instruction in English.

A certificate of eligibility is generally delivered to children who did most of their elementary or secondary studies in English in Canada; those with a brother or sister who did most of their elementary or secondary studies in English in Canada; or cases in which the father or mother did most of his or her elementary studies in English in Canada.

In the first two cases, the father or mother of the child must be Canadian citizen. In the third case, the father or mother must be a Canadian citizen, unless he or she did his or her studies in Québec.

These are the most common cases in which children are eligible for instruction in English, but there are other, more special cases, for example:

Children with severe learning disabilities as defined in the government regulation made under section 81 of the Charter:

Children whose father or mother was declared eligible for instruction in English but who did his or her elementary and secondary studies in French after August 26, 1977.

The certificate of eligibility for instruction in English is permanent. In other words, it can never expire.

Children who are declared eligible for instruction in English may pursue their studies in French and still transfer their right to receive instruction in English to their children.

When a child is declared eligible for instruction in English, his or her brothers and sisters may also be declared eligible.

Temporary Authorization

Children who qualify for a temporary authorization to receive instruction in English fall into three broad categories:

• The dependent children of persons living in Québec temporarily to study or to work, including:
• The dependent children of foreign nationals who hold a Québec certificate of acceptance or an employment authorization or a student authorization issued in accordance with the federal Immigration Act, or who are exempted from holding such a certificate or authorization under a statute applicable in Québec.
• The dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Québec temporarily to study or work;
• The dependent children of persons who are not Canadian citizens and who are posted in Québec temporarily as representatives or officers of a country other than Canada or of an international organization:
• The dependent children of members of the Canadian Armed Forces who are posted in Québec temporarily.

The temporary authorization to receive instruction in English is delivered to the child and is valid for the same period as the immigration document issued to the parent or child or for the duration of the temporary stay as specified in a sworn declaration. It expires on June 30 of the school year in which the parent's or child's temporary stay ends.

A temporary authorization to receive instruction in English may be renewed provided that the applicant still meets the same criteria as in his or her first application.
However, the authorization cannot be granted to the children of foreign nationals who are claiming refugee status for themselves or their children, or of foreign nationals who choose to settle in Québec on a permanent basis and obtain a Québec certificate of acceptance. If an authorization has already been granted, it expires on June 30 of the school year in which the certificate of acceptance is delivered.

The Application Process

To obtain a certificate of eligibility or a temporary authorization for a child, the parent or legal guardian of the child must first contact the school board or private school where he or she wishes to enroll the child.

The parent or legal guardian must complete the appropriate application form and attach all of the required supporting documents. The child's birth certificate must be enclosed in all cases and must give the names of both parents. If a birth certificate cannot be provided, any other official document issued by a competent authority and attesting to the child's date of birth, sex and filiation will be accepted.

The school board or private school forwards the application and supporting documents to a person designated by the Minister of Education. This person will verify whether the child is eligible for instruction in English and will render a decision. The parent or legal guardian of the child will be informed of the decision within one to three weeks, depending on the time of year at which the application was made.

If the decision is negative, the parent or legal guardian has 60 days to file an appeal.