Resources for Current Education Staff

The Education Operations and Development Division provides support to education authorities and schools offering Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 (JK-12) programs through the;

• Teacher Certification Program;
• Teacher Induction/Mentorship Program for teachers new to the North or to the profession;
• Training and Certification of Principals (Education Leadership Program);
• Maintenance of a student record system and provision of transcripts of marks received and credits earned in the Senior Secondary Program (Grades 10-12);
• Issuing of Grade 12 diplomas; and
• Training and development programs for Divisional Education Authorities.

The following documents provide further information on education in the NWT, as well as various policies and procedures specific to JK-12 administration. 

• NWT School Handbook 
• Principal Growth and Evaluation Guide
• NWT Education Act
• NWT Ministerial Directives 

In the NWT, Educational Directives convey policies, responsibilities, and procedures as set by the Minister of Education in accordance with the Education Act, NWT School Funding Framework for education bodies. 

Education planning reports are developed prior to most major school projects. The reports, along with the Capital Standards and Criteria, are used to guide the school facility planning and design process.

• NWT Schools Capital Standards and Criteria

The characteristics of a successful educator go beyond a checklist of skills, which is why the professional standards are based on competencies: the knowledge, skills and values a successful NWT educator should be able to demonstrate and transfer to their professional context and beyond. As demonstrated in research, a strong relationship exists between student achievement, teacher wellness, and professional capacity.

The GNWT will introduce the Standards to educators in Fall of 2022 through a small-scale pilot, which includes an educator survey, Q&A sessions, and the opportunity to participate in an in-school trial in January 2023.

Feedback from the small-scale pilot will be used to refine the Standards and inform the development of a renewed growth and evaluation model for teachers.

NWT-wide implementation of the NWT Competency-Based Educator Standards and a renewed teacher growth and evaluation model is anticipated for the 2024-25 school year.

The GNWT developed the draft NWT Competency-Based Educator Standards in part by reviewing educator standards and best practices in other jurisdictions including Nunavut, British Columbia, and Australia.

NWT education body superintendents and the Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association were actively engaged in the development process and will continue to have input on the Standards.

While these are the NWT’s first professional Educator Standards, NWT educators have always been required to maintain and meet high standards to obtain teacher certification, such as holding a Bachelor of Education or early childhood educator diploma, or have education and proficiency in an Indigenous language.

The majority of Canadian jurisdictions have developed standards for educators. In many jurisdictions, professional standards inform teacher certification (i.e., a teacher must demonstrate they meet the standards to receive certification). A jurisdiction’s standards also guide post-secondary education and professional development programs, aligning in order to prepare teachers to become certified.

Passport to the internet. This resource is intended for Grade 4-8 students. Its five modules focus on social networking and privacy; tricks of the trade of online advertisers; authentication skills and judging reliability through a mock search engine; safe and wise web surfing; and ethical use of messaging services.

MyWorld. This resource is intended for high school students. Its four chapters aim to teach authenticating online information; managing your reputation and privacy online; dealing with online relationships; and acting ethically online.

Web Awareness Workshop Series. This resource is intended for adults who need to “keep ahead of kids on prevailing internet issues.” The self-directed and group delivery learning tools offer teachers a comprehensive program on safety, privacy, marketing, cyberbullying, and evaluation of online information.

This Handbook is for the use of all school staff in planning for the delivery of school programs.

This section deals with administrative tasks that occur throughout the school year.

Classrooms in the NWT are becoming increasingly diverse. Providing appropriate programming and meeting these diverse needs is a challenge for all teachers. However, a range of programs, strategies, and approaches is available, from the use of technology for distance education to the more formalised procedures required for the development of a Student Support Plan (SSP) and an Individual Education Plan (IEP).

Elementary and Junior High programs vary between schools. This section contains information to assist with program planning and scheduling.

NWT senior high schools use Alberta Education curricula for core course areas, fine arts, Physical Education, Career and Technology Studies, Health, Career and Life Management, and French Language Arts. Northern Studies 10, a requirement for graduation, is an NWT developed course.

Section 6 - Senior High Specific Course and Program Information

Schools and District Education Councils/District Education Authorities (DEAs/DECs) are encouraged to celebrate student achievement. Schools may have their local or regional awards established for this purpose.

Section 8 - Information for Teachers

In addition to the documents identified in Section 1.1 – Essential Documents, the following is a list of documents that should be in your school to assist in planning and operations.