Education Partnerships Program: Partnerships Component: National Program Guidelines 2023 to 2024

5.1 Eligible activities

As a purpose of the Partnerships component is to support the implementation of partnership-related activities, previous applicants must demonstrate how the current proposal and eligible activities will enhance or be a continuance of previous years activities.

Partnerships funding may support the continued development and implementation of activities identified within the partners' joint action plan or any other mechanism to facilitate the partnership or an agreement already in place with either the ministry of education or ISC.

• Developing First Nations provincial or territorial arrangements or strategies to improve programs and services for First Nations students attending provincial or territorial schools. For example:
  • developing new or replacing existing tuition agreements with programs and service-type agreements that set out strategies and measures to improve First Nations student outcomes
  • developing other strategies that do not duplicate existing core services, such as service enhancement agreements, to improve the outcomes of First Nations students attending provincial or territorial schools
• Mutually sharing expertise and provision of services. For example:
  • sharing expertise in pedagogy and existing curriculum
  • mutually providing services such as professional development and training
  • piloting proven provincial or territorial initiatives in First Nations schools and First Nations initiatives in provincial or territorial schools
  • working with other First Nations schools and school systems
• Improving coordination between First Nations and provincial or territorial schools to ensure smooth student transitions. For example:
  • developing transition protocols or strategies to enable First Nations and provincial or territorial schools to track and support students moving between schools, such as a common student identifier linked to the provincial or territorial system
  • developing data-sharing protocols, mentorship programs, guidance and preparation for students entering provincial or territorial schools
  • coordinating First Nations and provincial or territorial schools' schedules, policies and strategies
• Establish stronger links where other federal and provincial or territorial departments are involved, to assist with student transitions. For example:
  • establishing coordination to facilitate better program links between early childhood, elementary and secondary schools, post-secondary education or labour market training programs
  • establishing strategies for on-reserve First Nations students who are transitioning to off-reserve schools, including boarded students
  • developing education initiatives or curricula in First Nations schools
  • developing strategies, involving the appropriate federal and provincial or territorial departments, the private sector and other partners, to improve the essential skills of secondary students leading to job readiness and employment or to improve kindergarten readiness

5.2 Criteria

Partnerships component funding only supports eligible activities and expenditures that meet the following criteria and proposals must clearly demonstrate that:

• all partners share a common goal and collaborate to improve First Nations student achievement in First Nations and provincial or territorial schools
• the partnership involves educators and education specialists in First Nations schools and organizations or in the provincial or territorial system the partnership is focused on 1 or more of the priority areas described in section 5
• all partners agree to report on the results of the partnership to member communities
• all partners contribute financially or in-kind First Nations contributions can be funded in whole or in part through the program
• partnership activities related to supporting regional models or agreements
• all partners commit to practical measures to improve outcomes

6.1 Eligible expenditures

Subject to section 6.2, eligible expenditures include:

• short-term, non-permanent funding for salaries and benefits
• travel expenditures including accommodation costs, private vehicle, mileage allowances and daily meal allowances. ISC will provide funding in accordance with the rates set out in the National Joint Council's Travel Directive, excluding incidental allowances
• meeting costs including facility rentals, meeting rooms, audio-visual equipment rentals and hospitality
• communications with First Nations and education partners such as ministries of education, teachers' associations and school board associations
• professional services, consulting fees or Elder engagement, daily rates and duration of contract must be clearly stated
• honoraria for Elders, Knowledge Keepers, cultural and ceremonial drummers and dancers
• costs associated with implementing the extension of provincial or territorial initiatives or programs in First Nations schools and First Nations initiatives or programs in provincial or territorial schools
• costs associated with the implementation of joint agreements, protocols or strategies as they relate to First Nation schools such as:
  • data-sharing protocols
  • mentorship programs
  • guidance and preparation for students entering provincial or territorial schools
• IT start-up services: proposals must be accompanied by an IT strategy and implementation plan and a price quotation. IT start-up services may include:
  • the purchase of hardware or software for the organization only and not for in-classroom or individual student needs
  • IT fees, for example, maintenance or licenses that is critical for the organization's operations when funding is not available elsewhere
• legal advice, excluding litigation costs
• purchase of learning and instructional materials to be utilised by the First Nations organization
• independent program evaluation

6.2 Ineligible expenditures

Ineligible expenditures include, but may not be limited to:

• provincial and territorial tuition
• activities related to the negotiation and implementation of self-government agreements
• infrastructure, including planning, construction, operation or maintenance of federal and First Nations school facilities
• any activity expenditure that would result in duplicate funding such as receiving funding from more than 1 source for the same cost of an activity, including fees and services covered through tuition agreement
• acquisition or maintenance of equipment or supplies in provincial or territorial schools
• short-term fee-for-service arrangements, such as an annual contract for an online platform
• provision of professional development, travel expenditures including accommodation costs, private vehicle mileage allowances and daily meal allowances within the rates set out in the National Joint Council's Travel Directive for provincial or territorial staff
• expenses related to activities taking place in provincial or territorial schools in support of First Nations students. These expenses are to be covered by the partnering provincial or territorial school
• activities associated with health and health related issues, first-aid training, mental health coordinators, psychologists, suicide prevention, mental wellness retreats
• activities that are covered by the Canadian Heritage's Indigenous language legislation, such as:
  • language and curriculum materials
  • curriculum personnel
  • cultural and heritage activity workers and elders
  • land-based education programming equipment
• door prizes, swag bags and gifts

To find out more about the program funded under Canadian Heritage's Indigenous language legislation, visit:

• Indigenous Languages Component: Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program

To find out more about ISC's funding programs, visit:

• Funding programs

6.3 Maximum administration costs

Eligible administration costs include only the actual costs associated directly with administering the proposal and may be calculated based on the total funding requested for activities to a maximum of 15% of the requested funding.

The data collection instrument (DCI) will automatically calculate the amount.

Eligible administration costs include, but are not limited to:

• clerical support
• office space and utilities
• administrative overhead, such as:
  • stationary and office materials
  • cell phones and office telephones
  • individual IT equipment
• the collection, maintenance and reporting of data and information in accordance with program and financial reporting requirements
• costs associated with ensuring that personal information is appropriately managed and safeguarded during its collection, retention, use, disclosure and disposal

When a funding recipient further transfers funds to a third party that were received under this program, the 15% allowed for administration costs must be divided between the parties, as agreed to by the parties.

7.1 Submission of proposals

All proposals submitted to ISC must use the official 2023 to 2024 DCI, which specifies the mandatory information required. Refer to the DCI's "View Instructions" button for assistance.

ISC headquarters will email the DCI form directly to previous applicants to complete along with instructions on how to submit the completed proposal.

ISC regional offices will email the DCI form to all remaining First Nations in their respective region with the same instructions for proposal submission.

Applicants who are applying to the Partnerships component can only submit a single-year proposal.

7.2 Assessment criteria

The mandatory DCI fields must be completed with clear information. Missing information or the lack of clarity may impact the proposal assessment process and the level of recommended funding.

These guidelines define the eligibility and merit criteria. The DCI provides direction on all other mandatory information requirements.

The proposal merit criteria, as further outlined in the DCI, is as follows:

• capacity: applicants are required to describe their related experience, expertise or capacity to undertake the proposed activities
• commitment and support: applicants must confirm that the proposal has the support of communities, schools and partners
• implementation plan: the extent to which the proposed activities support the objective of the requested funding
• activity costs: the amount of requested funding should clearly align with the nature of the activity

7.3 Review and approval process

Proposals will be reviewed and approved by ISC and applicants will receive written confirmation of the funding decisions.

8.1 Funding recipients

A funding recipient is a successful applicant who has signed a funding agreement with ISC.

8.2 Duration of funding

2023 to 2024 approved funding will be provided through a 1-year contribution agreement.

A given year's level of approved funding does not guarantee funding or the same level of funding in following years.

Recipients are required to report anticipated deferred or surplus funding to ISC by February 15, 2024 through the Deferred/Surplus Funding Plan annexed to their 2023 to 2024 funding decision letter.

8.3 Funding approaches

Transfer payments to Partnerships funding recipients will be made using fixed contribution.

Set contribution may be used if the recipient so wishes.

ISC regional officers can provide information on the eligibility requirements of these funding approaches and on the requirements related to the management of the funds.

The funding approach used to transfer funds to a recipient is identified in the recipient's signed funding agreement.

The following specific program directions for the management of transfer payments complement the directions provided in the recipient's signed funding agreement and are to be read in conjunction with the funding agreement.

Set contribution funding

Reallocation of funding:

Reallocation of funds is not allowed with transfer payments made using set contribution.

Fixed contribution funding

Reallocation of funding:

During the fiscal year, recipients may reallocate a reasonable percentage of funds among the eligible activities and expenditures of their ISC-approved proposal for the Partnerships component of the program.

Recipients must obtain approval from the ISC officer responsible for the program in their region before reallocating funds.

Unexpended funding:

Recipients may carry over unexpended funding remaining at the end of the fiscal year, for use in the next fiscal year on eligible activities and expenditures outlined in these guidelines.

In exceptional circumstances where the funds cannot be spent on eligible activities and expenditures outlined in these guidelines, recipients may be allowed to spend the unexpended funds in the next fiscal year on activities and expenditures of another program component.

Recipients must demonstrate their eligibility to the other program component and provide a comprehensive plan for the use of the funds to the ISC officer responsible for the program in their region.

Flexible contribution funding

Reallocation of funding:

During the fiscal year, recipients may reallocate funds among the eligible activities and expenditures of their ISC-approved proposal.

Unexpended funding:

Recipients may carry over unexpended funding remaining at the end of each fiscal year, for use in a subsequent fiscal year to further achieve results toward their ISC-approved proposal. Any unexpended funds remaining after all the mandatory activities of the ISC-approved proposal are delivered, can only be spent on eligible activities and expenditures as outlined in these guidelines.

8.4 No duplication of funding

The Partnerships component is designed to be flexible in order to address shared partnership priorities. This component is not designed to supplement or duplicate funding for activities funded by other programs, including ISC's Elementary and Secondary Education program.

9.1 Reporting requirements

The reporting requirements, such as program reports and financial reports and their respective due dates are listed in the recipient's funding agreement and details on these requirements are available in the Reporting Guide.

Recipients must report on all funds received and expended, including the use of unexpended funding they were able to retain to use in another fiscal year. Consult the funding approaches section of these guidelines for details on the use of unexpended funds.

Recipients who have access to the ISC Services portal can access the reporting forms by opening a session on the portal. Recipients who do not have access to the portal should contact their regional office.

9.2 Monitoring and oversight

All recipient reporting requirements are subject to monitoring and oversight activities to determine the accuracy of the information provided to ISC.

To ensure that the program or strategy outcomes and objectives are being met and opportunities for continuous improvement with a goal to improve results for Indigenous peoples are being identified, activities including audits, evaluations, as well as targeted program or strategic reviews may be conducted in collaboration with the recipient, for example, desk and on-site reviews.