Jordan’s Principle is a vital Government of Canada program designed to ensure that First Nations children receive timely access to the services and supports they need. On December 12, 2024 Wild Rose School Division communicated to our stakeholders through this news release how the federal government has delayed 2024-25 funding approval for these critical supports and how this delay will negatively impact many of our First Nations students. We are thankful to the many stakeholders who advocated to the federal government on our behalf. 

Unfortunately, the federal government has now informed us that our 2024-25 Jordan’s Principle application for Educational Assistants to provide critical supports for many of our First Nations students has been denied. 

This denial is very disappointing news in that these supports are critical to bridging educational gaps for many First Nations students in our schools. Specifically, additional Educational Assistant support ensures that First Nations students have access to cultural, inclusive and meaningful learning experiences, helping to build resilience, engagement, and success in education. 

This denial is also very confusing in that our request for Educational Assistants in previous year’s Jordan’s Principle applications were approved by the federal government. If they were considered critical supports for many of our First Nations students in past years, why are they not being considered as important for these same students in the 2024-25 school year?

As such, our next step will be to request further clarification and begin the appeal process regarding the federal government’s decision to deny our request for Educational Assistants in our Jordan’s Principle application.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support during this challenging time. Together, we will navigate these difficulties while keeping our focus on the learning and well-being of all our students.

If you have any questions, need assistance, or would like to discuss how we can move forward together, please email contactus@wrsd.ca