Education and Early Childhood Development
September 30, 2015

Engaging Students and Communities

Provincial Government Holding Focus Groups on High School Graduation Requirements

Focus group sessions to gain insight on high school graduation requirements begin tomorrow at Clarenville High School for invited students, staff and parents. These sessions will take place in 14 schools throughout the province from October 1 to October 22. A complete schedule of sessions is included in the backgrounder below.

�The economic and social conditions in the province have changed significantly since the last review of these requirements and now is the appropriate time to commence this review. This is an opportunity for invited students, teachers and parents to engage in meaningful conversation to ensure that students in Newfoundland and Labrador have the best possible and most relevant opportunities to prepare them for post-secondary studies, career and the job market.�
- The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development

Participants will be randomly selected from a student database to ensure fair and diverse representation. Each session will consist of a guided discussion with respect to the current high school graduation requirements and students� needs. Once this is complete, a �What We Heard� document will be released for further feedback from the general public and educational stakeholders.

�The feedback received from these consultations will provide the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development with valuable input to help make informed decisions with respect to the high school graduation requirements. This will build on the initiatives already happening to enhance our education system. I look forward to receiving the feedback generated as a result of these sessions.�
- Minister Sullivan

Any member of the general public can also contribute to this process through an online survey www.ed.gov.nl.ca or by contacting 1-844-678-7599 for a printed package to be mailed to them.

QUICK FACTS:

• Province-wide school based focus groups to gain insight on high school graduation requirements begin tomorrow at Clarenville High School.
• Consultations will take place in 14 schools throughout the province and occur from October 1 to October 22.
• Participants will be randomly selected through a student database to ensure fair and diverse representation. Each session will consist of a guided discussion with respect to current high school graduation requirements and students� needs.
• Members of the general public can visit www.ed.gov.nl.ca to provide their feedback or contact 1-844-678-7599 for a printed package to be mailed to them.

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Media contact:
Blair Medd
Director of Communication
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
709-729-0048
blairmedd@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER
High School Graduation Requirements Focus Group Schedule

Location	School	Date
Clarenville	Clarenville High School	October 1-2
Bay Roberts	Ascension Collegiate	October 5
Ferryland	Baltimore School	October 5
Mount Pearl	O�Donel High School	October 6
Corner Brook	Corner Brook Regional High School	October 6-7
St. John�s	Holy Heart	October 7
Mainland	Ecole Ste-Anne	October 8
Torbay	Holy Trinity High School	October 8
CDLI	CDLI (Students and Staff)	October 9
Grand Falls-Windsor	Exploits Valley High	October 13-14
Twillingate	J.M Olds Collegiate	October 15
St. Anthony	White Hills Academy	October 19
Happy Valley-Goose Bay	Mealy Mountain Collegiate	October 20-21
Labrador City	Menihek High School	October 21-22
Marystown	Marystown Central High School	October 22

2015 09 30                             1:55 p.m.