Kodiak Education Reforms, 649

Kodiak Education Reforms, 649

Education in The Kodiak Republic (TKR)  should prepare all generations for future success by providing a strong foundation of core knowledge and learning. A stronger education system that serves all children and youth regardless of background will increase future generational productivity, and economic potential, and advance TKR socially, and technologically. Our future belongs to and is driven by the next generation(s). We as a nation must prepare our children, from all walks of life, for a better future with the aim of meeting and exceeding international standards for education levels amongst the population.

This reform package introduces two acts that form a fundamental reform of education practices and standards that provide equal opportunity for all. 1) State Education and Standards Act, and 2) Nutritional Standards for School Meals Act

PASSED 21 December 2022, with 16 Aye, 0 Nay, 3 Abstain.

State Education and Standards Act

Article 1: Definitions

1.1 - State School(s): Primary and secondary schools that are publicly funded by the Kodiak Government. State Schools may also be referred to as Public Schools.

1.2 - Private School(s): Primary and secondary schools that are privately funded, and funded by school fees. Private schools include but are not limited to privately owned and run schools, religious schools or private schools sponsored by an established religious entity, and privately owned/run specialty schools

Article 2: Kodiak Education Board

2.1 - Establishes the Kodiak Education Board, headquartered in Rykkburgh with satellites in all major provinces, under the authority of the Ministry of Education.

2.2 - The board is responsible for the oversight of funding arrangements, school quality standards, curriculum guidance,  and overseeing education licensing for private schools.

2.3 - The board is responsible for coordinating with major provinces to ensure that all eligible students are legally enrolled in a school.

Article 3: School Catchments

3.1 - All state schools will service catchment areas defined by the Kodiak Education Board.

3.2 - Catchments determine priority placements for students at their local state school. Therefore, all state schools must prioritise enrolment for their local catchment area and enroll all eligible students who request enrolment.

3.3 - Typically a residence will be within a catchment for their nearest state primary and/or secondary school.

3.4 - State schools may approve applications for students outside their intended catchment if capacity allows.

Article 4: Public and private education

4.1 - All students are eligible for enrolment in a state school, fully funded by the Ministry of Education, and therefore all state schools shall not charge school fees.

4.2 - Private schools may be granted an education license to operate by the Kodiak Education Board. Therefore, no private schools may operate without a license.

4.3 - Private schools may charge school fees, but are not funded by the Ministry of Education.

4.4 - The Kodiak Education Board reserves the right to rescind an education license should minimum education standards not be met by a private school.

4.5 - In the event a license is rescinded, a school may reapply for licensing along with formal documentation on plans to address the shortcomings that led to the loss of license.

Article 5: Minimum Standards of Education

5.1 - The Kodiak Education Board shall dictate requirements for all schools relating to minimum standards of facilities and education; which shall be publicly available for citizen viewing.

5.2 - This act establishes minimum standards that must be established and maintained by the Kodiak Education Board. However, the board may elect to introduce higher standards, or more detailed requirements to meet minimum standards.

5.3 - Minimum facility standards must adhere to:

5.3.1 - Having enough teaching facilities, and staff facilities to ensure a reasonable ratio of teachers to students as determined by the Kodiak Education Board.

5.3.2 - Schools providing adequate recreation, food, and school health care facilities.

5.3.3 - Schools providing space and facilities for physical education, and sports.

5.3.4 - All facilities must meet health and safety requirements, and appropriate air quality and climate control.

5.3.5 - All facilities must be accessible for disabled staff, students, and visitors.

5.4 - Education standards must meet requirements laid out for educational pathways, core curriculum, and national assessment as per Article 6 and 7.

5.5 - The Kodiak Education Board is required to publish requirements for meeting all key minimum education standards.

5.6 - Private schools, must adhere to minimum standards dictated by this act and requirements established by the Kodiak Education Board to retain their education licenses.

5.7 - All state and private schools will be inspected annually by the Kodiak Education Board to ensure adherence to school education and facility standards.

5.7.1 - All inspection results shall be published for public viewing.

5.8 - All state schools will publish 5-year plans for the improvement and maintenance of standards, in consultation with the Kodiak Education Board for public viewing. These may be updated as often as practically needed and on recommendations from the Kodiak Education Board annual inspections.

Article 6: Education Pathways

6.1 - The primary and secondary education pathways are divided into stages, with each stage ending with national assessment to determine students knowledge and skills, as well as assess preparedness for advancement which may identify students that require support.

6.2 - The key stages of education are defined as follows:

• Early Years (Ages 4 to 5), covering Reception/Preschool, for the purposes of preparing children for the school environment, learning and social development.
• Primary Stage 1 (Ages 5 to 8), covering Years 1 to 3, aka. Primary 1 to 3 (P1-3).
• Primary Stage 2 (Ages 8 to 11), covering Years 4 to 6, aka. Primary 4 to 6 (P4-6).
• Secondary Stage 1 (Ages 11 to 14), covering Years 7 to 9, aka Secondary 1 to 3 (S1-3).
• Secondary Stage 2 (Ages 14 to 16), covering Years 10 to 11, aka Secondary 4 to 5 (S4-5)

6.3 - The key stages identified in clause 6.2 are considered compulsory education, and all students must be enrolled as such according to their ages. Excepting special circumstances as negotiated with the student's school.

6.4 - Upon successful completion of Year 11 (approximately the age of 16), and final examinations, students are considered to have graduated from schooling with the Kodiak Secondary School Certificate (KSSC).

6.5 - For the purpose of preparation for tertiary education, advanced learning, and assessment for university enrollment, students may be optionally enrolled in the Upper Secondary education stage for an additional 2 years (Ages 16 to 18), known as Years 12 and 13, or Secondary Lower 6, and Upper 6.

6.5.1 - Students will be assessed in both years, although summative the Lower 6 assessment should additionally act as an indicator for student preparedness, and knowledge, as well as to identify any skills gaps for their chosen pathways.

6.5.2 - Lower and Upper 6 years of schooling shall allow flexibility for the student to specialise from amongst core and elective study areas related to their intentions for tertiary education.

6.5.3 - Upon completion of the Upper 6 stage of schooling, students graduate with the Kodiak Higher School Certificate (KHSC) and have considered to have met accreditation requirements for entry into tertiary education should they also meet the entry requirements of their chosen institution.

Article 7: Core Curriculum

7.1 - The core curriculum for primary and secondary education must cover:

• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Technology and Computing
• Arts, Music, and Design
• Health and Physical Education
• Foreign and Other Languages

7.2 - Schools are authorised to provide both required and elective courses to cover the core curriculum areas in consultation with the Kodiak Education Board to meet both educational and assessment standards.

7.2.1 - Schools are authorised to select and choose which foreign language courses available to students with consultation with the Kodiak Education Board with due consideration to curriculum, needs, and availability of teaching staff.

7.2.2 - All high schools must offer Kodiak Sign Language (KSL) as a language option to students.

7.3 - Schools are authorised to deliver advanced placement courses in consultation with The Kodiak Education Board and Kodiak universities for Lower and Upper 6 students.

Article 8: State School Funding

8.1 - Funding provided by the Ministry of Education is ₣11,500 million per quarter.

8.2 - The following pools of funds will be managed by the Kodiak Education Board:

8.2.1 - General school funding (50%), allocated to all state schools equally to support maintenance, staff, education, facilities, and support for disabilities and social & mental health.

8.2.2 - State school improvement accelerator (20%), allocated based on needs assessed on: poor academic outcomes, social and economic indicators in the school’s catchment, and poor performance relating to minimal facility standards.

8.2.3 - State school projects fund (20%), allocated by application from schools in order to fund projects relating to a school’s 5-year plan.

8.2.4 - General fund allocations (10%), general fund allocations to provincial administration, operational expenses, and other expenses.

8.3 - All fund allocations, alongside performance metrics will be published by the Ministry of Education.

Article 9: Superseded legislation

9.1 - This act shall supersede and replace Article I: The State School System from The State Schools Act (Inter).

Nutritional Standards for School Meals Act

The Ministry of Education and Health, following a science-based approach, recognises that good nutrition and availability of food allow growing children the energy to learn and develop new skills, social capabilities, and knowledge amongst their peers. The Kodiak Republic recognises that no child should be left behind, and all children should be provided an equal opportunity for growth regardless of circumstances.

Article 1: School Meals for All

1.1 - All state schools shall be provided with free breakfast and lunches should students or families wish to partake, free of charge.

1.2 - Meals shall be distributed by schools to pupils as per their own internal policy.

1.3 - The Ministry of Education will have a budget of  ₣300 million per quarter to orchestrate catering and distribution per province.

Article 2: Nutritional Standards

2.1 - In consultation with the Ministry of Health, nutritional standards will be presented and adhered to by all school meal catering services.

2.1 - Nutrition guidelines will be published by the Ministry of Education for student and family information, as well as to provide guidance on meals for students should families wish to provide their own.

Proposed by Hester Sirocco-Loren, KWP, Deputy Chancellor, Minister of Education and Health