Good day, Minister,
Subject: Streamlining the process for Letters of Permission
The British Columbia School Trustees Association is a champion of good governance practices
among school boards, providing exceptional professional development and working with
partners to ensure the success of every student across British Columbia. As the sole
nonpartisan organization representing democratically and locally elected boards of education,
BCSTA has been a steadfast champion for good governance in public education for 120 years.
We were grateful that you were able to join us at BCSTA AGM 2025 in April of this year. During
the business portion of our event, members passed a motion requesting that the Ministry of
Education and Child Care collaborate with the Teacher Regulation Branch (TRB) to streamline
the process for Letters of Permission (LOPs), making them valid for two years.
Presently, the process for applying for a Letter of Permission can be quite burdensome and
time-consuming for districts. Sometimes multiple applications are required, incurring significant
costs and involving extensive use of human resources. Due to recruitment challenges, districts
must employ teachers on LOPs to keep classrooms and schools operational. In districts with
ongoing and persistent hiring difficulties, they may hire a teacher on a letter of permission for a
period exceeding one year.
As of Oct. 1, 2024, the number of LOPs working in the BCSTA’s Northern Interior and Northwest
Branch was 197. Typically, this number increases through the school year as districts’ needs
continue to evolve.
The TRB application process requires HR personnel to complete and submit a considerable
amount of paperwork. In smaller districts with limited HR capacity, this often increases workload
beyond what the district can handle on time.
The TRB response time for issuing certificates to both teachers and LOPs remains an ongoing
concern. Issuing an LOP with a two-year validity period could improve processing times for
other certificates. Another way to streamline this process is to consider providing an LOP that is
valid across the entire province, which may offer more flexibility if the individual moves from one
district to another.
We work hard to provide students across the province with exceptional learning experiences,
delivered by qualified teachers and instructors. The LOP is key to this success, and streamlining
the process will allow us to deliver on this promise.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Tracy Loffler
President
British Columbia School Trustees Association