Update on AQED’s Position After Our Recent Meeting with the DEM
On November 26, AQED met with the Direction de l’Enseignement à la Maison (DEM) to clarify several aspects of the pilot project for the combined meeting. We are sharing a summary of that meeting and an update on our position. Before doing so, however, we would like to provide some background on our ongoing discussions with the DEM on this topic.
Since the implementation of this pilot project last year, we have been asking numerous questions to better understand its intentions and procedures. At every meeting, we emphasized the importance of allowing families to decide whether or not to participate in the pilot project. Each time, we were told that participation was optional and would remain so. Unfortunately, on November 26, we learned that the pilot project was being rolled out to all families.
October 2024
The DEM presented the pilot project, explaining that they saw many similarities between the monitoring meeting and the mid-term report. The pilot project was therefore intended to simplify things for families and reduce administrative burden. We were told that the purpose of the monitoring meeting would not change—it would not become an evaluation. They also stated that they had no intention of making it mandatory.
November 2024
The DEM reiterated that the pilot project did not change the purpose of the monitoring meeting. They emphasized their desire to focus on meaningful exchanges with families.
May 2025
The DEM informed us that they had received positive feedback from families regarding the pilot project. We noted that some families preferred to keep the option of completing their documents themselves. The DEM responded that it would remain a pilot project if renewed the following year, and that they would consult us beforehand. At that time, nothing had yet been confirmed for the following year.
October 2025
We pointed out that the communication shared at the beginning of the year by the resource persons had not been very clear. We asked whether the pilot project had become mandatory. The DEM responded that families could still proceed as usual. The pilot project was optional, though strongly recommended. Several AQED members also shared email exchanges with their resource person (RP) confirming that the project was optional — but that the combined meeting report on the portal would still be completed to ensure continuity in case of a change in RP.
November 2025
The DEM opened the meeting by informing us that the pilot project was no longer voluntary. They continue to call it a pilot project only because the Règlement sur l’enseignement à la maison has not yet been amended. The “optimized” monitoring (the term they use to refer to the pilot project) is being deployed to all families. Their goal is to reopen the Regulation after these two years of implementation by demonstrating that the project has been successful.
Under this model, the combined meeting would become the new requirement, replacing both the mid-term and status report. The new document completed by RPs during the meeting no longer resembles last year’s version, and even less the mid-term report a parent would have submitted. Even though the DEM’s “optimized” report indicates whether obligations are met, the document filled out by the RP does not reflect the richness of the exchanges in any meaningful way.
We want to be transparent with you: the DEM’s recent approach to these changes is troubling and raises significant concerns within the Board of Directors. While it may feel as though the DEM currently holds the upper hand, the Regulation has not changed, and our role is to support you. For this reason, we will be seeking a legal opinion on the legitimacy of these imposed changes. We will continue standing beside you, defending your rights, and offering support during this uncertain time.
This pilot project may run smoothly when the relationship with the RP is excellent. However, when the relationship with the RP becomes difficult, families are left without any means to protect themselves in case of disagreement. Everything depends on the RP’s account rather than the written documents prepared by parents. Based on our experience in recent years, it can be challenging to have confidence in the judgment of all RPs, as we have had to intervene multiple times when RPs acted outside the legal framework. It is also hard to place full trust in the DEM, given that requirements have been changed repeatedly in recent years, sometimes even mid-year. Moreover, the pilot project contradicts the Regulation, which puts us in a very uncomfortable position.
During our November 26 meeting, the topic of in-person monitoring meetings was also discussed. The DEM confirmed that only original documents will be accepted as evidence of learning. For example, photos of completed projects will no longer be accepted. They made it clear that they would prefer that meetings take place in the family’s home so they can see this material. We believe it is important to be cautious here, and that it is preferable to request a neutral location for the meeting—such as a library room or a space at your school service centre. We remind you that no RP can require you to hold the meeting in your home.
We also confirmed that, as with virtual meetings, in-person monitoring meetings do not require the child to be present for the entire duration.
Our Recommendations
- Since the monitoring meeting now replaces the mid-term report and is conducted verbally, we strongly recommend having someone accompany you (a partner, friend, or AQED volunteer).
- We were informed that the proposed meeting locations would be your home or the DEM offices. If neither option works for you, feel free to suggest a neutral location, such as a library or a room at your school service centre.
- Make sure to quickly verify whether the document your RP adds to your file reflects what you expected. If it does not, inform them by email.
- If the situation does not seem appropriate or satisfactory, you may file a complaint at [email protected] (you may CC [email protected] so we can follow the situation).
Next Steps
- As mentioned above, we will be requesting a legal opinion to assess the legality of this imposed change.
- We invite our member to join us for a Zoom meeting on December 2 at 7 p.m. to answer your questions and hear your concerns.
- We will be meeting with the DEM again on December 17.
- We also invite you to respond to this brief survey (2 questions) to help us better understand members’ concerns regarding the imposition of the pilot project and to better guide our discussions with the DEM.