Eligibility
Get an English eligibility certificate
In 21st century Quebec, the value of bilingual education in English and French is clear. English-language public schools offer wonderful opportunities for children to learn and grow in an English environment, while still getting a superior education in the French language. This respects the history and traditions of Quebec society, while building a strong foundation for our children in an increasingly globalized world.
As required by the provincial Charter of the French Language, your child requires a Certificate of Eligibility for Instruction in English to be enrolled in an English public school. Each member school board can assist you in applying for a certificate, and help you to determine if your children are eligible to attend an English school.
Did you know that a child is eligible if
- The mother or father is a Canadian citizen who has received the major part of his/her primary school instruction in English in Canada;
- The grandfather or grandmother is a Canadian citizen who has received the major part of his/her primary school instruction in English in Canada;
- The mother or father is a Canadian citizen and their child has received or is receiving primary or secondary instruction in English in Canada and that such education is a major part of his/her education; the siblings of such a child are also eligible for English instruction;
- A child has severe learning disabilities and instruction in English can facilitate the learning process;
- The mother or father is not a Canadian citizen, but resides in Quebec on diplomatic status;
- The mother or father is a member of the Canadian Armed Forces who are posted in Quebec temporarily.
For more information on English education eligibility, please consult the website of the Ministère de l’Education (MEQ) or your local English-language school board
What to do to register your child for English education in Quebec?
To be able to attend public or private English school * or to follow a French immersion program in Quebec, students must be eligible to receive education in English as specified by the Government of Quebec in the Charter of the French language .
Inscription
To find your school board, please follow this link.
In most cases, all new registrations for the school year are made at the primary or secondary school. Please confirm the specific dates with your school board. Usually, registrations are made in late January before the start of the next school year in September.
The request for the Declaration of Eligibility for Teaching in English must be made during the registration period before the start of the following school year. Please click on the link for more details on the procedures to follow: Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
If you have not been able to submit the application for the Eligibility Declaration on time, there is still a deadline to do so: usually June 1, before the start of the new school year. If you find yourself in this situation, you must go directly to your school board to submit the required documents. This applies to all elementary and secondary schools across Quebec. If you are unsure of the procedures to follow, do not hesitate to contact your school board for further information.
Kindergarten education is available to children five years of age by September 30.
Primary education is offered to children six years of age by September 30.
To attend an English-language secondary school, students must have their Declaration of Eligibility or their permanent code (which identifies each student who attends an educational institution in Quebec).
Please click here to access the Frequently Asked Questions of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
In the event that you wish to enroll your child in a public English school, and the child has previously attended a private English school, there is now an assessment system of points to determine eligibility. Please contact the enrollment department of your school board for more information.
Eligibility: The Right to Teach English in Quebec
The Charter of the French language distinguishes three types of situations allowing eligibility for education in English or French immersion education in Quebec:
- that of children who are permanently established in Quebec and who can obtain a declaration of eligibility for education in English,
- that of children who are permanently established in Quebec and who can receive education in English under a specific authorization,
- that of children who are temporarily staying in Quebec and who can obtain a temporary authorization to receive education in English.
Government of Quebec: Eligibility: Who can attend school to teach in English?
Please note that the Government of Quebec requires that students in private schools teaching English that are subsidized by the government have a Declaration of Eligibility.
Steps to follow
To have the right to education in English recognized by a child, the parent or the person who has legal custody of the child must contact the school board or private school where he or she wishes to ‘to register. We have made available an application to allow you to identify the school board in which you are located. Please click to access our ‘My School Board’ tool.
Application for Eligibility – Checklist:
- Provide the child’s birth certificate bearing the name of his parents.
- Fill out the appropriate form and attach the required documents.
- The school body then forwards the request, along with the required documents, to a person designated by the Ministry of Education,
- Higher Education and Research to verify the children’s eligibility for English-language school and to decide on this topic.
The request will generally be processed within 10 working days.
If the decision is negative, the parent can appeal, within 60 days, to the Administrative Tribunal of Quebec.
The parent may, within 30 days, appeal to the examination committee if he wishes to invoke a serious family or humanitarian situation in support of his request.
If you decide to appeal, your school board may be able to help you.
For further information, please consult the page of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education
School Boards
A school board is the administrative arm that manages a community comprising students, parents, teachers, professionals, support service, administrators and commissioners of a clean territory.
There are nine English-language school boards in the province of Quebec, all of which promote excellence in public education.
The Association of English Speaking Parents’ Committees (ACPA) represents the interest of parents to the Minister of Education and Higher Education.
ACPA administrators encourage all parents to check their children’s English education eligibility and encourage them to take advantage of the opportunity to enroll their children in an English school. It should be noted that there is a high level of accomplished and successful bilingual graduates from the English educational system in Quebec.
The nine English-language school boards in Quebec:
Central Québec
Eastern Shores
English-Montréal
Lester-B.-Pearson
New Frontiers
Riverside
Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier
Western Québec
Eastern Townships
To find your school board, please click “My School Board”.