PAN Calls For An AREA STANDARDS Review

​Today PAN sent the Ministry of Education a brief (download pdf) calling for an Area Standards Review.

Area Standards is a government policy that determines the maximum space allocation for all new and replacement schools in BC.  BC Area Standards are far below other provinces in per pupil space allowance. Under current BC Area Standards, replacement schools are 30% smaller for student populations of the same size.  School size and design impacts teaching and learning conditions for all students. Under current BC Area Standards, Schools are TOO SMALL.

Background:
​ BC Area Standards were established by the BC Ministry of Education in 2003, just prior to commitment to the seismic mitigation program.  The Area Standards policy defines eligible space allowances for all new and replacement elementary, middle and secondary schools in BC.
BC Area standards fall far below area standards in other provinces for space allowance per pupil space.  Even though BC is a world-leader in 21st century curriculum design, the BC Area Standards does not allow sufficient space to build schools that support the teaching and learning goals of the redesigned curriculum.Under the current standards, replacement schools are on average 30% smaller than existing schools for the same size population.Area Standards effectively eliminates non-enrolling spaces for art and music in elementary schools.  It also severely restricts space for circulation in schools, that has effect on social wellbeing and sense of belonging for students within a school. Furthermore, BC Area Standards does not reflect increased space requirements arising from the restored contract language on class size and composition.
BC is spending billions of taxpayer dollars over the next decade to replace and upgrade seismically unsafe schools and aging infrastructure as well as meeting demand in areas of rapid population growth.  It is imperative that the Area Standards policy is updated to ensure that new schools are not only safe but effective and support the teaching and learning goals of the redesigned BC curriculum.  Other provinces are leading the way in updating area standards to align with 21st century school design principles.
 
We believe BC can too.

We are calling on the provincial government to conduct an area standards review.

Did you know?
BC AREA STANDARDS:

• has the lowest space allocation per student in both instructional and gross floor area when compared with other provinces
• does not allocate sufficient space for 21st century school design to support implementation of the redesigned BC curriculum
• does not accommodate specialized hands-on learning spaces for art/science, music or performing arts in elementary schools
• does not adjust space allocations for multipurpose space and gym in schools to reflect increased school size and higher use needs
• allocates only half the circulation space (hallways, walls, stairwells, community gathering spaces and entrance way) compared with Ontario and New Brunswick
• does not allocate space for a staff room or washrooms

Blog post reformated on October 20 to increase readability.