Can I Homeschool in English?
Homeschooling in Quebec: Language of Instruction
There are lots of English schools in the province, especially in the Montreal area. The issue, however, is whether you get to send your kids to one of them. One of the measures implemented in the language law was to require that anyone enrolling a child in an English school produce a certificate of eligibility to access English-language education. That little piece of paper is so precious, I know of at least one family who have framed the certificate and hung it on the wall!
If you are new to Quebec and you are coming from outside of Canada, in all likelihood you are not eligible to send your kids to school in English. If your family has lived in Quebec for generations, but no one has ever been educated in English, chances are you will have to send them to school in French. There are some exceptions, but basically it's not easy to get that little paper for your kids unless you were educated in English somewhere in Canada.
It is important to note that the language law applies to public institutions, and as such, does not apply to homeschooling. If you are a homeschooler moving into Quebec, or if you are withdrawing your child from a French school, you may have been told that you are not permitted to educate your child at home in English. Rest assured, this is simply not true. You may educate your child at home in the language or languages of your choice.
Here is the official statement of the ministry of education (the MELS):
"In addition, children who are ineligible for instruction in English under the Charter of the French language may receive home schooling in English, as these provisions do not apply to them. Consequently, parents may ask the English school board for their area to exempt their child from compulsory school attendance and to assess their child's learning for the purpose of certification. Likewise, parents may ask the French school board for their area to do the same if their child receives home schooling in French. However, home schooling in English does not make a child eligible for schooling in English in public schools or in private educational institutions accredited for the purposes of subsidies under the Act respecting private education." ("Home Schooling - Policy Framework")
If your child is ineligible for public schooling in English, you may find that English school boards will generally refuse to register the child. Similarly, French school boards Are not responsible for children educated in English and will not be interested in registering your child unless you plan an education in French. What to do? According to advice AQED supplied to the Montreal Homelearners early in 2008, if a board can't or won't register your kids thank them for their help and simply go about homeschooling just as you were. ("Homeschooling and language laws")
Folks who may benefit from this option:
* Anglophones and allophones entering Quebec from outside Canada, who would ordinarily have to send their kids to French school, and who are concerned their children will not be able to keep up with their classmates;
* Francophones without eligibility certificates, who would like their children to benefit from earlier exposure to English instruction or from a bilingual or English immersion format that is not available through the local public French-language school;
* Anyone with a child who seems to struggle a great deal with the French language, but who has no specific diagnosis of learning difficulty or other disability that may grant him eligibility, and who would therefore be required to send this child to school in French.
If you choose this option, do keep in mind that if you ever need to return your kids to public school they will have to attend a French school. It is wise to provide some French instruction!
The bottom line: If you are not ordinarily eligible to send your children to English school you have a legal right to give them an English education by opting to homeschool.
The author is not a legal expert. This article represents a good faith interpretation of information available at the time of writing. Please consult a lawyer for more details or legal assistance.
Published by Kyla Matton
Kyla Matton has been writing ever since she could hold a pen in her hand. Her first piece was published almost 30 years ago, and since then she has written for a number of print and online publications. Her... View profile
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8 Comments
Post a CommentMichelle, I hope you'll find an education that works for your family. Canada is officially a bilingual country. Parents should have the right to choose education in English, French or both for their children, from sea to sea to sea.
I recently moved to Quebec from USA my child is American (my husband and I aren't americans nor cannadiens)... my child start talk one year ago and her primary language is english....I can't imagine I will have to sent her to french school....I can't speak french and for her in the future is better to speak english.... In my personal opinion people from Quebec hurt themselves and their children...as they mostly don't speak english they can not move out of this little province...and sorry but this french has nothing to do with french from france... so probably in couple of years we will have to move again...this time out of quebec mabe ottawa or toronto because of propblems with english education here
You're very right, Joseph. It's traditionally been difficult for French speaking families to get a French education outside of Quebec. I think you'll find there are French schools in a lot more places now, though. I was surprised looking around. I'm not so sure there are always French school boards, but French schools are more common in many provinces now. It's good to see Francophones and people of French descent embracing their roots, and also to see more people understanding that bilingualism is an asset. We may still be in the minority, but it feels like a larger minority now :)
I am loving your hs articles, especially those pertaining to homeschooling in Quebec. I know US homeschooling laws very well, but other places, not as much. Thanks for another great read. :-)
English Canadians are very lucky they have their own school boards, their own schools and if you were born in english Canada you automatically qualify for an English education. The paper is just a formality. The French on the other end!!! try to find French school boards in English Canada. They are almost non existent outside of Ontario.
So long as you realize we're not living in igloos! Ice hotels, maybe, but igloos are pretty rare these days ;) Seriously though, I think even Canadians outside of Quebec are often unaware of our legal differences. Blame tends to get placed on the Francophones, but most that I know want their kids to learn English very much. A lot are dissatisfied with English instruction in the schools, and some would like to send their kids to English schools. I'm glad this was of interest. I wondered how many people would want to read about Quebec...
Very interesting. I had no idea Quebec was holding onto French so vehemently, but then again, how much do Americans know about Canada? ;)
I thought I knew quite a bit about homeschooling but the news about English and Quebec was new to me. Glad that Mommie Tulottes put it on Facebook, with a link (might have missed this otherwise).