POPARD Course and Workshop Eligibility & Fees

POPARD is funded by BC’s Ministry of Education to provide training for employees of BC School Districts and BC Independent Schools that follow the BC curriculum. Visit our Upcoming Training Dates page to see all currently scheduled courses and workshops, and to find registration links.

POPARD Courses

POPARD courses are for employees of BC public, First Nations, & independent K-12 schools. School employees should register for POPARD training using their school employee email address. The employee’s school email address provides proof that registrants are employed by a BC public/First Nations/independent school. School employees who do not have their own school employee email address can proceed with registering, but must also complete and submit a Confirmation of Employment Form (form will open in a new window).

NOTE: Parents/guardians of a child with ASD attending a BC K-12 school are also permitted to register for our 5-day courses; the child’s school name and Personal Education Number (PEN) must be provided on the registration page).

There is a fee for most courses provided by POPARD, specific details about fees can be found on the registration page for each training session.

POPARD 1 and 2-day Workshops

POPARD 1 and 2-day workshops are also intended for BC school employees, however a limited number of seats are available to registrants who are not employed by a BC public/First Nations/BC independent school. Non-school attendees must complete the appropriate registration form (including explaining why they are interested in taking the training). There is an administration fee for most workshops provided by POPARD. Additional details about fees can be found on the registration page for each training session.

Cancellation Policy & Refunds

Registrations are non-transferable. The course/workshop fee will be refunded if written notice of cancellation is received (by email, to POPARD’s training coordinator) by the deadline specified on the registration page for that particular course or workshop.

Course Participant Code of Conduct

A POPARD course is intended to be a professional learning environment in which participants are expected to display the attitudes and behaviours that would be consistent with the work that they do in schools or in the general workplace. These expectations are also considered to be the hallmark of professional and respectful learning environments. A failure to adhere to these expectations may result in the course participant being dis-enrolled from the course.

Participants are expected to:

• attend the scheduled course sessions
• arrive at the course sessions on time each day and remain until class ends
• come to class prepared with readings and assignments completed
• demonstrate active and attentive listening during instruction
• actively contribute to class activities and discussions
• use appropriate and respectful language
• display appropriate nonverbal/body language
• socialize only during class breaks

NOTE: Participants must attend the entire training session in order to receive a certificate upon completion of the course (for courses in which certificates are issued). There are no make-up classes or drop-ins to other sessions.

Course Work & Evaluation

Please refer to the specific course pages for more information regarding course work & evaluation, including supplementary readings, assignments and projects, and quizzes/exams.

Expected English Language Proficiency

*NEW* As of July 1, 2022

As of July 1, 2022, POPARD will institute new prerequisite English Language Proficiency requirements for registration in all POPARD courses. Proficiency in English language is required for POPARD’s courses. You must be able to speak/listen and read/write English to a standard equivalent to grade 12 high school English or better. You may encounter difficulty understanding course material without a firm grasp of the English language.

Please ensure you meet the following language requirements before registering for a POPARD course:

• High School Diploma (or equivalent) and
• Proof of English Language Proficiency:
  • Passing mark English 12 or Communications 12 or
  • Passing mark on a Post-secondary English course (equivalent to Grade 12 or higher) from a recognized post-secondary institution where English is the primary language of instruction

If you have not fulfilled the above prerequisites, you must have completed an English Language Proficiency test. The table below lists the minimum score required by POPARD on acceptable tests:

Cheating Policy

• Cheating is a serious offence.
• When you are completing independent assignments, tests or quizzes, the work you submit is expected to be yours alone.
• Cheating will be dealt with immediately.
• If you are suspected of cheating you will be spoken to by the instructor and you may also be referred to the host administrator or the POPARD principal.
• On the first instance of cheating behaviour you will receive a zero on the assignment, test or quiz.
• On the second instance of cheating behaviour you will be instructed to leave the course and you will not receive a certificate.
• Cheating on the final marked activity on the last day of the course will result in a course certificate featuring a course mark of zero.

Cheating behavior is defined as any attempt to find or copy answers from someone else or another source. This behavior includes, but is not limited to: looking at someone else’s work, glancing over at someone else’s paper, asking someone the answer, or attempting to look up the answer on your phone or other device. Phones and laptops should be turned off and removed from your work surface during independent assignments, tests or quizzes to eliminate any suspicion of cheating.

Accommodations For Participants With Disabilities

Upon request, POPARD will provide reasonable accommodation to participants with documented disabilities. Accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis, in order to promote learner success.

Students who have a disability that has been diagnosed by a qualified medical or psychology professional and are requesting an accommodation must submit a Request for Accommodation Form at least 6 weeks before the scheduled training start date. Supporting documents from by an appropriately qualified professional will also be required (depending on the nature of the disability this may be a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other professional). Documentation must outline the diagnosis, symptoms, functional impact of your disability related to your learning success, and recommendations for accommodations. It is the responsibility of the course participant to submit documentation validating their disability within the 6-week time limit.

Once we’ve received your Request for Accommodation Form, POPARD will communicate with you to determine what reasonable accommodations can be provided.