Innovation in Education Program: National Program Guidelines 2019 to 2020
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1. Introduction
The Innovation in Education Program replaces the Innovation activities program that was offered under the discontinued New Paths for Education. Innovation in Education is one of several contribution programs, along with Research and Learning and the Education Partnerships Program, which complement Indigenous Services Canada's (ISC) funding efforts towards First Nations elementary and secondary education.
The investment in this program reaffirms the Government of Canada's commitment to working collaboratively with First Nations to ensure that all First Nations students receive a culturally-responsive, high-quality education that improves student outcomes, while respecting the principle of First Nations control of First Nation education.
These guidelines were developed in partnership with the Assembly of First Nations and the National Indian Education Council.
These program guidelines are intended to support eligible recipients in the development of their costed work plans. They are effective as of April 1, 2019 and are to be read in conjunction with the funding agreement signed by each recipient and the Elementary and Secondary Education Program: National Program Guidelines 2019 to 2020.
2. Objective
The objective of the Innovation in Education program is to support innovative programs and projects which aim to improve outcomes for communities, schools and students. The program is defined through a regionally-based funding allocation and project approval process, led by First Nations. These projects will lead to the development and implementation of best practices in innovative education for First Nations students.
3. Expected outcomes
The program is a part of broader efforts to improve First Nations elementary and secondary education. Activities are expected to support improving the overall quality of education in First Nations schools and to contribute to the following specific outcomes:
- First Nations have increased education system capacity
- Results indicator: percentage of First Nations who have increased education system capacity in one or more key areas of need such as: tools and equipment, connectivity, school data systems, teaching assistants
or
- education services and resources better reflect student needs, culture and language
- Results indicator: percentage of students who are provided with culturally-based curriculum or land-based learning services in First Nations Administered schools
- other outcomes as determined by regional education agreements
4. Funding recipients
Recipients eligible to receive funding for this program are:
- First Nations or band councils
- tribal councils, political, treaty or settlement organizations
- national First Nations representative organizations, including Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories
- other First Nations education organizations designated by First Nations, including school boards, school board-like entities and First Nations regional representative organizations
Depending on the nature of the regional agreement, funding may be allocated to a First Nations organization to administer the program regionally or to specific projects, based on availability of funds and First Nations decisions.
5. Activities
The program supports activities towards the development and implementation of innovative education program pilots, for example, projects related to technology, land-based learning or Indigenous language and culture. Eligible activities include those which lead to:
- pilot a new program in school
- pilot an adaptation of an existing program for a new purpose or for a new audience in school
- assess and measure the impact of a pilot project first created under the former New Paths for Education Program, based on same types of objectives and outcomes
or
- share the story of successfully piloted innovations nationwide
6. Expenditures
Eligible expenditures must be directly related to the eligible activities set out in the work plan that has been approved through a First Nations led regional process.
Eligible expenditures may include the following:
- salaries, fees and honoraria for professional services (for example, researchers, language professionals, advisors, Elder and guest speakers)
- salaries, benefits and wages for employees
- transportation and accommodation costs for eligible participants incurred as a direct result of participating in an eligible activity not already covered by elementary and secondary program funding
- learning materials, including those required for land-based education
- materials and equipment purchases or rentals
- printing and publishing costs, including online
- facility rentals
- hospitality
- curriculum and instructional materials development costs
- diagnostic, testing and evaluation tools
- professional services
- professional development and support activities
- costs associated with coordination of region-wide education programs and services
- program modification or adaptation
- funding for liaison with First Nations education and community service providers (for example, child and family services, employment programs)
- provincial service providers
- education organizations to support improved education outcomes
Administration costs not exceeding 15% including, but not limited to:
- management of regional program processes, such as travel, honoraria
- clerical support
- office supplies
- collection, maintenance and reporting of data and information in accordance with program and financial reporting requirements
- costs associated with ensuring that personal information is appropriately managed and safeguarded during its collection, use, disclosure and disposal
Administration costs include only the actual costs associated directly with administering the program and must not exceed 15% of the sub-total amount requested before administration costs. The program's Data Collection Instrument (DCI) will automatically calculate the amount.
When a funding recipient further transfers funds to a third party that were received under this program, the 15% allowed for administration costs must be divided between the parties as agreed to between the parties. The total administration costs retained by all parties must not exceed 15% of the sub-total amount requested before administration costs.
Travel expenses are to be claimed at actual cost, but cannot exceed the guidelines specified in the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's Travel Directive in effect at the time of travel. Expenses which exceed the rates set for in the directive are ineligible and will not be paid.
7. Funding
7.1 Maximum amount of funding
The maximum annual amount payable per recipient is $6 million and will depend on the co-developed regionally-based allocation methodology process and on availability of funding in the overall Innovation in Education Program funding level.
7.2 Funding approaches
Transfer payments to funding recipients of the Innovation in Education Program may be made using fixed contribution or flexible contribution depending on the eligibility of the recipient and of the service to be delivered. Set funding may also be used if the recipient so wishes. ISC regional officers can advise on the eligibility of these funding approaches as well as on the requirements related to the management of the funds. The funding approach used to transfer funds to a recipient is identified in the recipient's signed funding agreement.
The following specific program directions for the management of transfer payments complement the directions provided in the recipient's signed funding agreement and are to be read in conjunction with the funding agreement.
Set contribution funding
Reallocation of funding: reallocation of funds is not allowed with transfer payments made using set contribution.
Fixed contribution funding
Reallocation of funding: during the fiscal year, recipients may reallocate a reasonable percentage of funds among the eligible activities and expenditures of their ISC-approved proposal for the Innovation in Education Program.
Unexpended funding: recipients may retain unexpended funding from a fiscal year to expend in the 1 year period immediately following the fiscal year for which it was provided, on eligible activities and expenditures outlined in these guidelines.
Flexible contribution funding
Reallocation of funding: during the fiscal year, recipients may reallocate a reasonable percentage of funds among the eligible activities and expenditures of their ISC-approved proposal for the Innovation in Education Program.
Unexpended funding: recipients may retain unexpended funding remaining at the end of each fiscal year, to expend in a subsequent fiscal year, to further achieve results toward their ISC-approved proposal for the Innovation in Education Program.
8. Reporting requirements and monitoring and oversight activities
- The reporting requirements (program and financial reports) and their respective due dates are listed in the recipient's funding agreement and details on these requirements are available in the Reporting Guide
- All funding recipient reporting requirements are subject to monitoring and oversight activities to determine the accuracy of the information provided to ISC
9. Accountability
- ISC has committed to jointly manage the program in collaboration with First Nations or their regional organizations
- First Nations partners will drive the development or the selection of costed proposals. It must be noted that should total costs of identified projects be lower than total program budget allocation, final decisions regarding the release of these funds will be jointly determined between First Nations and the department
- ISC is accountable for seeking consensus as much as possible with First Nations partners, in order to help deliver the funding allocation principles, including:
- funding equity amongst regions, as determined by First Nations
- all funds being disbursed
- First Nations partners are accountable for coming forward with proposals which include the following:
- activities to be undertaken
- expected results
- costs
- ISC is committed to providing assistance to First Nations partners and recipients in order for them to effectively carry out obligations set out in this document and funding agreements
- Funding recipients must administer or deliver the projects in accordance with the provisions of their funding agreement and the project delivery requirements outlined in this document while also ensuring that the necessary management controls are in place to manage funding and monitor activities. Funding recipients are required to exercise due diligence when approving expenditures and must ensure that such expenditures are in accordance with the eligible expenditures set out in this document
- First Nations partners and recipients are expected to make information about their project available for sharing in order to allow for exchange of learning and knowledge
10. Personal information
ISC's collection and use of personal information and other records for the purposes of targeted program reviews (for example, desk and on-site reviews) will be limited to what is necessary to ensure program delivery requirements are met.
ISC is responsible for all information and records in its possession. The confidentiality of the information will be managed by ISC in accordance with the Privacy Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. P-21 and other related policies on privacy. Recipients are responsible for the protection of personal information as per provincial privacy statutes and regulations and the recipient's policies up to the point that the personal information is transferred to ISC.
11. Contact information
The Innovation in Education program is regionally-based. ISC regional office coordinates can be found on the regional offices page.
You can also write to:
Education Branch
Indigenous Services Canada
10 rue Wellington
Gatineau QC K1A 0H4
Email: aadnc.education-education.aandc@canada.ca
These guidelines can be viewed on the Education Programs: National Program Guidelines page of ISC's website and through the View Instructions button on the first page of this program's Data Collection Instrument (DCI).
12. How to apply
Consult the Innovation in Education Program page for detailed information on the application process.
Please contact your regional office for more information.