Support for Learning

The BC Ministry of Education and Child Care acknowledges that there are some aspects of a general education program that are difficult to provide in an online environment. Online Learning Schools are to develop their own policies regarding the use of third-party service providers, learning resources funding, and financial support for internet access.

Student Eligibility:

  • Full-time SIDES student of record in K-9; or
  • Full-time SIDES School of Record students with a designation in level 1, 2 or 3, and in grades K-12.

Internet access

As with previous years, financial support of a maximum of $500 per eligible SIDES household can be provided to offset the cost of internet access.
*This will be the S4L model for the 2025-26 school year.

Internet access reimbursement

Internet costs will be reimbursed twice per year (in January and May). To be reimbursed, families must submit proof of payment of Internet bills for the school year (September-June). Please note that bills alone are not sufficient. See below for directions.

Application process for Internet access reimbursement

  • Parent completes the S4L Application form and submit required documents into our Document Portal. Attention to: Julie Jackson
  • Parents send proof of payment of Internet access to our Document Portal in January and/ or May. A separate form must be sent each time. Attention to: Julie Jackson
  • When emailing, in subject line please include:
     - Initials, grade, reason
    - e.g. JS, gr. 7, S4L application

Educational third-party S4L

SIDES will be transitioning their policy in order to maintain consistent requirements and guidelines. If Parents/Guardians request that S4L funding be applied to educational third-party services, the following expectations are required:

  • Funding must be tied directly to competencies or content from the BC Curriculum and must be linked to the student’s education program.
  • Teachers must approve educational plans.
  • Parents/Guardians will need to coordinate learning activities with service providers, and provide:
    - Direct academic communication about students’ performance
    - Evaluation of student work and assessment of student performance by third-party provider. Parents/Guardians must submit a report to the student’s teacher (see last page).

*Please note: This option will only be available for the 2024-25 school year.

Examples of accepted educational third-party services:

  • Sports activities with a formal instructional component (no equipment purchases)
  • Music instruction, either in person or online (no equipment purchases)
  • Dance classes, either in person or online (no equipment purchases)
  • Horseback riding (no equipment purchases)
  • Membership in an astronomy or photography club (no equipment purchases)
  • Fine art instruction, either in person or online, including painting, pottery, knitting, drawing (no equipment purchases)
  • Consumable educational products, such as math workbooks, math manipulatives, novels (school supplies and computer supplies are NOT eligible)

S4L is NOT intended for:

  • School supplies (including but not limited to paper, writing tools, binders, USB flash drives)
  • Art supplies (including but not limited to markers, crayons, arts-and-crafts items)
  • Hardware, or other non-consumable items (including but not limited to computers, laptops, printers, sports equipment, etc.)
  • Tutors
  • Play-based activities or resources not directly connected to the curriculum (including but not limited to LEGO or Playmobil)
  • Career/ Technical Centre program courses or post-secondary transition (dual credit) courses
  • Museum entry
  • Drop-in recreational center passes

Criteria for S4L approval

Funds for activities or resources must be paid directly to third-party providers. Direct payment or reimbursement to students or families is not possible, except for internet costs. Additional criteria for activities, services, or resources (to be included on the completed S4L application form):

  • Approval of the activity, service, or resource by the student’s SIDES teacher
  • Activity, service, or resource is aligned with curricular outcomes and student learning plan
  • Activity, service, or resource must be based in Canada
  • Activity must take place during school terms and must be completed by June 30, 2024
  • Completion of evaluation and assessment before subsequent S4L applications

S4L funding schedule and calendar

S4L funding is provided up to $500 per eligible student, per academic year, when registration for SIDES and the Student Learning Plan are completed and approved by the teacher and parent between July 1st and September 30, 2024. S4L funding will be pro-rated if registration occurs after September 30.

  • SIDES registration from July 1 to September 30 - $500 (eligible to apply after October 15)
  • SIDES registration from October 1 to February 14 - $250 (eligible only after February 15)
  • SIDES registration from February 15 to May 1 - $125 (eligible only after May 15)
  • SIDES registration from May 1 to June 30 – no funding provided

If a student formally or informally (as determined by SIDES) leaves SIDES before February 15 and has utilized the S4L funding, the parent must refund Saanich School District 50% of any S4L funds spent.

Application process (except for Internet access reimbursement)

  • Parent completes the S4L Application form and submit required documents into our Document Portal. Attention to: Julie Jackson
  • SIDES teacher approves or denies the activity, service or resource and informs parent
  • Parent enrolls child in the activity or service or orders resources and does not pay
  • Parent submits a third-party provider invoice to our Document Portal. Attention to: Julie Jackson. SIDES pays the provider directly.
  • Parent agrees that teacher will require evaluation and assessment report from third-party provider
  • When emailing, in subject line please include:
     - Initials, grade, reason
    - e.g. JS, gr. 7, S4L application

Student safety and third-party providers

Parents and guardians are solely responsible for ensuring all safety related to third-party providers of services and locations of third-party instruction, as well as the use of any equipment therein.

Download the form:

S4LApplication2024-25.pdf