Eligibility for English Instruction
Permanent Certificate of Eligibility: A Few Ways to Qualify...
A certificate of eligibility is generally delivered to children when one of the following conditions is fulfilled :
- A child whose mother or father is a Canadian citizen. The parent has received the major part of his/her elementary education in English in Canada (i.e.while in Canada);
- A child whose mother or father is a Canadian citizen. The child has received or is receiving elementary OR secondary instruction in English in Canada, (i.e. while in Canada) provided that such education is the major part of his/her elementary or secondary;
- A child whose parents are not Canadian citizens but one of whom has received a major part of his/her elementary school instruction in English in Québec;
- A child whose father or mother received the major part of his/her elementary in English outside of Canada (abroad) providing that he/she was residing in Québec on August 26, 1977.
- A child whose sibling or parent already holds a certificate of eligibility.
Please note: Education received in a French Immersion Program in another Canadian province is now considered to be English for the purpose of eligibility. The education, however, must be done in a school that is recognized as an English school. The percentage of French versus English will not be taken into account; therefore, these students will be eligible for English instruction in Québec.
Permanent Certificate of Eligibility – Child’s Grandparents, Uncle/Aunt Clause
If the mother or father of a child
- was born after 1960 and,
- attended school in FRENCH, in QUÉBEC, between August 1977 and April 1982, OR after April 1982 and has a member of his/her immediate family who attended an English school (i.e. the parent’s mother, father, brother or sister), then he or she may request a certificate of eligibility for his/her child. Ask the school for the pink form 4A, and choose a criteria and a code that is appropriate to your case.
Authorization under Temporary Stay
Children who qualify for a temporary authorization to receive instruction in English in Québec fall into the following categories :
- Child who holds a CAQ from Immigration Québec or a Student Visa from Immigration Canada;
- Dependent child of a parent who comes to live in Québec, temporarily, to work or study. The parent needs a working permit or a student permit from Immigration;
- Dependent child of a parent who is not a Canadian citizen and who is posted in Québec temporarily as a representative or an officer of a country or an international organization;
- Dependent child of a parent or a spouse/common law partner who is a member of the Canadian Armed Forces assigned to Québec temporarily.
Exemption from the Charter of the French language
A child with severe learning disabilities, as defined in the government regulations under section 81, may receive an exemption to attend an English school. Under the new Law 104, this exemption is transferable to the child’s siblings but not to their descendants.
Derogation
A parent’s principal reason for requesting a derogation is to allow a child early admission to Kindergarten or the first year of Cycle I even though he/she is born after the September 30th deadline of the current school year. Other reasons a derogation may be requested are listed on the derogation form available at the school. Derogations are not normally considered for children born after December 31st.
The deadline for submitting a derogation request to the School Board is MARCH 31st when applying for the following year. The request is made at the school and parents must provide the following documents :
- A psychological evaluation, when applying for the following school year;
- A letter from the parents addressed to the Director General outlining the reasons for their request;
- A certified true copy of the child’s long form birth certificate bearing the names of the parents.
Contact Us
Louise Jackson
Responsible for applications for eligibility certificates - (450) 672-4010 Ext. 6035
E-mail: ljackson@rsb.qc.ca