Education and Early Childhood Development

The mission for New Brunswick public schools is to have each student develop the attributes needed to be a lifelong learner, to achieve personal fulfillment and to contribute to a productive, just and democratic society.

Strategic Communications (Branch)

The role of the Communications Branch is to provide public awareness of departmental programs, policies and services.

The branch is responsible for: advising the minister and senior managers on communications issues; communication strategic planning; news release, speech, pamphlet and brochure writing/proofreading/editing/design services; coordinating news conferences; public awareness campaign development; responding to requests from media outlets; media relations support; media monitoring; managing the department's web pages; print, broadcast and web advertising; providing ministerial support and coordinating activities related to the Legislative Assembly.

The Communications Branch reports directly to the Deputy Ministers.

Performance Excellence Process (Branch)

The Performance Excellence Process Branch is responsible for developing, facilitating and implementing the Performance Excellence Process within the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. This includes the execution of government strategy and implementation of a formal system for process improvement.

Accountability and Quality Assurance (Division)

The Accountability and Quality Assurance Division will focus on continuous quality and performance improvement, accountability through performance measures, core services and risk management to ensure EECD is delivering quality services in the most efficient and effective way possible.

Policy and Planning (Division)

The Policy and Planning Division is divided into three branches: Policy and Legislative Affairs, Corporate Data Management and Analysis and Corporate Management Support Services. The Division is responsible for policy development, analysis and advice, legislative proposals, legislature support and coordination, administration of the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, manage all ministerial correspondence and briefing notes, ensure linguistic review of translations, governance issues, corporate strategic planning, copyright, statistical information, data gathering instruments, project management, surveys, accountability tools and performance indicators.

Policy & Legislative Affairs (Branch)

The Policy and Legislative Affairs Branch ensures the Department has an appropriate legislative and policy framework in place by developing new policy and legislative proposals, interpreting policy and legislation for school districts, and providing policy advice. They also ensure that departmental plans are implemented strategically and effectively, provide reports on departmental initiatives, and on the progress of publicly-stated goals and targets. The Staff addresses educational copyright issues.

Corporate Data Management and Analysis (Branch)

The Corporate Data Management and Analysis Branch ensures the Minister and Deputies have sound and timely student and staff-level data on which to base decision-making. This is achieved by: putting in place appropriate electronic information systems and databases, developing and updating key achievement standards and performance indicators, developing and administering data gathering instruments, and developing and producing reports and other accountability tools.

The Branch provides statistical information regarding different aspects of the NB education system, including pupil enrolment, pupil-educator ratios, high school course enrolment, home and independent schooling enrolment, Part 2 staff FTEs and absenteeism, First Nations enrolment, projections, French second language, numbers of classes and class size, graduation trends and rates, dropouts, ratios, etc. The Branch audits the raw data and prepares official figures that are shared internally and externally.

The Branch participates in inter-provincial statistics projects, with the aim of developing timely and relevant indicators. The Branch also participates in other projects to improve the reliability and efficiency of data collection and analysis.

The Branch works closely with the Policy and Legislative Affairs Branch of the Policy and Planning Division to ensure that data supports and informs policy development.

Corporate Management Support Services (Branch)

The Corporate Management Support Services Branch is responsible for the management of all ministerial correspondence and briefing notes for the Minister, DMs and ADMs. The Staff is responsible for the linguistic revision of translated documents for the Department to ensure the duality in education. The Staff administers the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and ensures the support and coordination of the Legislatives business.

Early Childhood Development (Division)

The Early Childhood Services Division is responsible for the planning, design and monitoring of all departmental early childhood programs and services. These include the following programs and services: Prenatal and Postnatal Program, Day Care Services Program, Day Care Assistance Program, Alternative Child Care Program, Services for Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Program, Quality Improvement Funding Support Program for Child Care Facilities, Support Worker Initiative, Communities Raising Children and the Early Childhood Initiatives Program, including Early Intervention Services and Integrated Day Care services.

Central Office - Anglophone Section (Branch)

The Early Learning and Child Care team is responsible for the program supports and monitoring services as well as the licensing and monitoring of the early learning and child care facilities. These programs include Day Care Services Program, Early Learning and Care Curriculum, Day Care Assistance Program, Alternative Child Care Program, Program, Quality Improvement Funding Support Program for Child Care Facilities, Support Worker Initiative.

South District - Anglophone Section (Branch)

The regional operations teams are generally responsible for the licensing and monitoring of early learning and child care facilities across the province.

Secteur des services éducatifs francophones (Division)

The Educational Services Division is responsible for the operation of the major components of the Francophone school system, encompassing curriculum development and implementation for primary and high school, professional development, and student services, including special education, school psychology, services for students with sensory impairments, positive learning environment, guidance counselling, and student life. It also verifies students’ learning and coordinates and administers various evaluation programs in the schools.

The Division is also responsible for the Francophone school system’s educational, budgetary, and administrative planning, which involves maintaining close contact with the province’s five Francophone school districts. In addition, the Division ensures liaison with the District Education Councils (DECs) through the Provincial Forums, which are organized to facilitate the sharing of information and to encourage consultation between the Minister and the District Education Councils. It assumes responsibilities for the development of various educational projects in cooperation with other departments and various organizations and agencies at the provincial, regional, national, and international levels.

The five Francophone superintendents work with departmental staff on pedagogical issues.

Conseils d'éducation de district (Council)

District Education Councils (DECs), consisting of publicly and locally elected members, are responsible for implementing provincial education policy and for establishing the direction and priorities for the school district and for making decisions as to how the districts and schools are operated. DECs, with their superintendent, develop education and expenditure plans, implement programs, services and provincial policies, and establish local policies to best meet the needs of their district.

Programmes d'études et de l'apprentissage (Branch)

The Programmes d’études et de l’apprentissage Branch has the following mandate:
•To define the goals and objectives of the instructional programs taught to students attending the province’s Francophone public schools. The branch is responsible for provincial coordination of curriculum development and implementation and course delivery, development of educational resources, and professional development.
• The Instructional Services Branch analyses the instructional resources available on the market and recommends the ones best suited to support the delivery of the curricula prescribed by the Minister.
• The branch also coordinates educational projects in cooperation with other provincial government departments and other partners, such as the Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training (CAMET), the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), the Association canadienne d’éducation de la langue française (ACELF), the University of Moncton, l’Association des enseignantes et enseignants francophones du Nouveau-Brunswick (AEFNB) and the Action Group for the Commission on Francophone Schools (AGCFS).

École communautaire, du leadership et de la technologie (Branch)

In cooperation with the other branches of the Francophone educational services of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD), the Direction de l'école communautaire, du leadership et de la technologie (DECLT) assists New Brunswick's Acadian and Francophone public education system in achieving its mission. It helps develop and implement the provincial education plan.

Working closely with its partners, the DECLT is tasked with defining the vision and supporting the districts and the schools in terms of implementation and synergy with respect to:
• community schools;
• the leadership of principals;
• the instructional program at the elementary and high school levels;
• the life-career development of young people; and
• the judicious and innovative use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) for teaching and learning purposes.

The DECLT also works closely with the school districts, the schools, and its other partners to ensure provincial coordination and leadership regarding:
• services related to distance courses from an equity perspective;
• the professional and educational use of the education portal and its digital teaching and learning resources.

Services d'appui à l'éducation (Branch)

Educational learning support services are offered to students to ensure that they progress in their learning and that they are well prepared for their transition from school.

Mesure et évaluation (Branch)

The Assessment and Evaluation Branch is responsible for providing the various stakeholders at both the provincial and local levels with information about the degree of success of learning and teaching in New Brunswick's Francophone public schools.

The branch is responsible for developing, administering, and marking the elementary-level provincial exams and the high school completion exams, which are compulsory in order to obtain a high school diploma. It also ensures co-ordination and administration of national and international learning evaluation programs in the province's Francophone schools.

The branch also develops policies, guidelines and programs relating to the evaluation of learning, of teachers and of school principals.

Initiatives, relations stratégiques et éducation internationale (Branch)

The Initiatives, Strategic Relations and International Education Branch acts as liaison between the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, the other government agencies, and the community to promote the Department’s strategic objectives and guide the Department’s choices and actions. The Branch plans, coordinates, and implements related initiatives in cooperation with the partners and is responsible for the Department’s international Francophone relations.

Teacher Certification (Branch)

The Teacher Certification Branch evaluates all applications for teacher certification in the New Brunswick public school system. This includes out-of-province and out-of-country applications by correspondence or by direct contact.

Other duties and responsibilities include the issuance of regular local permits and Principals' Certificates, evaluation of work experience for salary purposes, approval of university courses for upgrading purposes, liaison with provincial universities. NBTA, AEFNB, NBTF and school districts, compliance with provisions of the Education Act, Regulation, Policy, Teachers' Collective Agreement and the Teacher Mobility Agreement.

The Branch is also involved in the review and implementation of changes related to Teacher Certification of the Regulations, membership on the Minister's Advisory Committee on Teacher Certification and Teacher Education Coordinating Committees, preparation of briefing notes for senior management, drafting letters and making recommendations to the minister in the matters of suspension or revocation of teachers' certificates.

Educational Services (Anglophone) (Division)

The Educational Services Division, in collaboration with stakeholders and partners, is responsible for:

• developing the Provincial Education Plan;
• defining student outcomes and achievement standards;
• determining what is taught to students in kindergarten through grade 12;
• providing the framework for effective instructional practice, supports and professional development;
• measuring and improving system effectiveness; and
• collaborating with other service providers to effectively deliver interdisciplinary educational programs and services.

In April 2007, the Division was restructured into three sub-divisions: Educational Programs and Services; Improvement Planning; and Strategic Initiatives. New or reconfigured responsibility areas of note are: improvement planning, community schools, professional development, international education and an Innovative Learning Fund.

Curriculum Development and Implementation K - 12 (Branch)

Curriculum Development staff identifies the goals and learning expectations of the instructional program for public schools. Learning specialists develop and maintain curricula in all subject areas and evaluate practices and instructional resources. Curriculum documents identify expected learning outcomes, instructional strategies, assessment tasks and resources to support learning.

E-Learning (Unit)

E-Learning specialists ensure that information and communication technology (ICT) is used effectively to enhance learning and to expand the range of courses offered and their availability to all students. International partnerships enhance the e-Learning agenda by creating opportunities for students and educators to learn in a global environment.

Student Services (Branch)

Student Services learning specialists set standards for and facilitate inclusive education programming, including supports for the continuum of learner needs, and guidance, stay-in-school/at-risk and enrichment programming. They develop guidelines and supports for Positive Learning Environment initiatives and work with districts to improve school success for groups of students whose needs are currently not well met, such as Aboriginal and English second language students.

Assessment and Evaluation (Branch)

The responsibilities within Assessment and Evaluation include monitoring student achievement through provincial examinations and monitoring school effectiveness through a school review process. The objective of both is to improve teaching and learning and to keep the public informed about the educational system's general health. Provincial assessments function as a reasonable and cost-effective gauge of an individual student's or school's overall achievement.

The Assessment and Evaluation Branch is responsible to report large-scale assessment results to the Minister of Education. Data and information from large-scale provincial, national and international assessments are obtained for the purposes of public accountability and improving programs and services.

The Assessment and Evaluation Branch is responsible for the following activities related to provincial large-scale assessments: test development; security protocols; setting administrative guidelines; establishing and monitoring procedures to allow students with special needs to have equitable access to assessment and examinations; determining methods of scoring and marking; and, releasing and reporting results.

Professional Learning Services (Branch)

Professional Learning Services includes School Improvement Reviews, professional development and leadership, program evaluation, and technology and design support.

Atlantic Education International (Unit)

Atlantic Education International Inc. is an incorporated body whose mission is to develop, market to, and support successful International Education Partnerships. Programs range from the marketing of educational products and services developed within the Province of New Brunswick to socio-cultural exchanges. To date AEI Inc. has international clients from K-12 through Post Secondary, with the bulk of our business involving sale of NB curriculum to Off-Shore Schools and providing NB placement for in-bound students of several nationalities. In addition, we have found employment for qualified teachers overseas, marketed N.B. developed Distance Education courses, delivered N.B. student exchanges, and coordinated Chinese student placements in our Public Schools, Colleges and Universities.

Teacher Certification (Branch)

Corporate Services (Division)

The Corporate Services Division is responsible
for providing efficient support in the areas of
Human Resources, Information Systems Services, Finance and Services, Educational Facilities and Pupil Transportation. Services provided to the Anglophone and Francophone public education sectors (K-12) of the Department at both the central office and district level.

Finance and Services (Branch)

The Finance and Services Branch consists of the following units: Budget and Accounting, School District Financial Services, School District Payroll Services and Administrative Services. The Branch mandate includes budgeting, accounting, effective departmental internal controls, financial reporting of school district operations as well as providing general office and administrative support services.

The Branch promotes accountability and is committed to the continued improvement in the management of financial and administrative support resources.

Central Files (Unit)

internal file system

District Payroll Services (Unit)

Processing and distribution of approximately 15,000 payroll cheques for Part II of the Public Service per pay period.

Educational Facilities and Pupil Transportation (Branch)

The Educational Facilities and Pupil Transportation Branch provide districts with support and expertise in the planning and management of educational facilities and pupil transportation. The objective is to create a healthy and secure learning and working environment as well as the implementation of a safe and efficient pupil transportation service.

Human Resources (Branch)

The Human Resources Branch develops, promotes and supports human resource policies, programs and practices that result in a workplace culture that is congenial, nurturing and committed to achieving a standard of excellence in education and all aspects of service delivery.

The branch is responsible for providing comprehensive human resources services to the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development's senior administrators, other central staff and representatives in the public school system.

Operations (Unit)

Responsible for recruitment, classification, employment programs, employee evaluation, occupational health and safety, payroll verification for Part II staff, benefits and attendance management.

Organizational Development (Unit)

Responsible for succession planning, career growth and development, employee engagement, employee recognition, competency profiling, the wellness strategy, the Official Language strategy, and the corporate HR strategy.

Labour Relations (Unit)

Responsible for negotiations, collective agreement interpretations, joint union/employer committees, labour management meetings, interdepartmental pension committee, grievances, civil actions as well as various types of complaints (Human Rights, Ombudsman, Harassment, Policy 701, etc).

Information Systems Services (Branch)

The Information Systems Services Branch is responsible for the implementation and support of information technology in the public school system and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development central office. This includes responsibility for the implementation and management of administrative information systems, coordinating the implementation of province-wide information systems with school district technical staff and management of the wide area network (WAN) that connects all schools, districts and central office.

Computers for Schools (Other)

A not-for-profit organization