The Francophone School Board

What The Francophone School Board does

Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (CSF) — branded in English as The Francophone School Board — is the sole publicly funded French-language school board for the Province of British Columbia, operating under Canadian minority-language education rights and funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of BC. Its core operation is the CSF Francophone School Network: 40+ public schools spanning Greater Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Fraser Valley, the Okanagan, the Kootenays, and Northern BC, delivering maternelle-to-grade-12 instruction in French. The board is one of the largest francophone employers in Western Canada, with a workforce that has grown from approximately 1,200 to more than 1,400 people. Its central office is headquartered in Richmond, BC.

CSF's platform architecture combines this physical school network with a proprietary online learning school — École Virtuelle, transitioning since September 2022 into a Provincial Online Learning School (École Provinciale d'Apprentissage en Ligne / ÉPAL) covering M-12, including a Baccalauréat International diploma pathway and dual-credentialing programs. Around this core, CSF operates several modular programs: the MyEducation BC (MYEDBC) family portal for parent access and online payments, the CSF Bienveillance inclusion/equity/SOGI resource hub, the Programme Élèves internationaux (international student tuition), TÉÉ newcomer settlement services, district-managed school transportation, an alumni portal, and a careers platform. The Cadre pour enrichir l'apprentissage (Enhancing Framework) is the proprietary pedagogical framework underpinning CSF's 2021-2026 strategic plan.

Revenue mechanics are dominated by government operating grants from the Province of BC and the Government of Canada (including a $13.5M joint 2023 investment for French teacher training across 12 BC institutions). Secondary revenue streams include international student tuition, donations and alumni fundraising (with merchandise sold via La Boutique Franco-Colombienne), and public-sector service contracts for TÉÉ immigrant family settlement work. Domestic K-12 enrollment is tuition-free for eligible right-holders under CSF admission policy P-104; international and online program fees are not publicly disclosed. Governance is exercised by a publicly elected board of seven trustees, with elections scheduled for October 17, 2026.

Name

The Francophone School Board

Legal name

Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique

Website

https://csf.bc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Francophone School Board (Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique / CSF) is the publicly funded French-language K-12 school board serving all of British Columbia, operating 40+ schools plus a province-wide online school (École Virtuelle/ÉPAL) for eligible right-holder families, international students, newcomers, and Indigenous learners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Special Education Online / Virtual Schools & Remote Programs (EDAKAAAL)

Keywords

• Francophone K-12 education
• Public school board services
• Online distance learning
• International student programs
• Indigenous education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government funding (provincial and federal): Publicly funded French-language school board; receives operating grants from the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada for French-language education. In 2023, federal/provincial governments announced over $13.5 million to support French teacher training, recruitment, and retention across 12 BC institutions (including CSF).
2. International student tuition (Élèves internationaux): Fee-paying international student program offered through a dedicated CSF service (education-internationale), generating tuition-based revenue distinct from domestic provincial funding.
3. Donations and community fundraising: Accepts donations via the CSF website; supports school-level parent advisory committees (APÉ) and alumni activities. Merchandise (e.g., Franco-Colombian Pride flags) available through La Boutique Franco-Colombienne.
4. Public sector service contracts (TÉÉ services): Receives funding to deliver immigrant family settlement and TÉÉ (Travailleurs de l'éducation et de l'enfance) services for newcomers to BC, a public-sector service delivery function.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The CSF is the sole public francophone school board in British Columbia, delivering publicly funded French-language K-12 education (maternelle to grade 12) through a network of 40+ physical schools across BC and a fully online school (École Virtuelle / ÉPAL) transitioning to M-12 curriculum since September 2022. It serves eligible French-program right-holder families, newcomers, Indigenous students, and tuition-paying international students, with integrated programs in SOGI-OSIG equity, Indigenous reconciliation, special education, and newcomer settlement (TÉÉ services).

Product overview

Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (CSF / The Francophone School Board of British Columbia) operates a platform-plus-modules architecture for public French-language K-12 education across the province. Its core offering is the CSF Francophone School Network of 40+ physical schools (from La Grande-ourse to École Au-cœur-de-l'île) supported by the École Virtuelle (Virtual School) online learning platform, which is transitioning into a Provincial Online Learning School (ÉPAL / Programme M-7) serving kindergarten through grade 12. Around this core, the CSF operates several named modules: the MyEducation BC (MyEDBC) Portail familial for parent access, the Bienveillance inclusion/equity/SOGI resource hub, the Programme Élèves internationaux (International Students Program), Services TÉÉ for newcomers, CSF Transport scolaire, the Alumni CSF community portal, the CSF Carrières recruitment platform, the Élèves Sans Frontières and Double accréditation programs delivered through École Virtuelle, and the Cadre d'enrichissement strategic learning framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• école Virtuelle: The CSF's online/distance learning school, founded in 2006, offering K-12 courses and transitioning to an École Provinciale d'Apprentissage en Ligne (ÉPAL).
• CSF Bienveillance

Products and services

• CSF Francophone School Network (Réseau d'écoles francophones du CSF) Network of 40+ public francophone schools across British Columbia delivering in-person French-language education from kindergarten through grade 12. Includes named schools such as Anne-Hébert, Norval-Morrisseau, Rose-des-vents, des Colibris, Jules-Verne, André-Piolat, Beausoleil, Victor-Brodeur, Gabrielle-Roy, de l'Anse-au-sable, and Franco-Nord. Serves eligible French-program right-holder families across BC's regions (Greater Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Fraser Valley, Okanagan, Kootenays, Northern BC).
• École Virtuelle / ÉPAL Provincial Online Learning School CSF's online learning school offering personalized, diversified, and flexible French-language distance education M-12. Operating since 2006 (originally grades 8-12) and transitioning since September 2022 to the ÉPAL Provincial Online Learning School. Includes the Baccalauréat International pathway, Double accréditation tracks (special education assistant, early childhood education, health care aide, holistic nutrition, social work intervention, social economy development), adult education, homeschool support, and the Élèves Sans Frontières international online program.
• MyEducation BC (MyEDBC) Portail familial Family portal integrated with the CSF that allows parents to access their children's student records, complete online registrations, and manage online payments via the BC Ministry's MyEDBC platform.
• Bienveillance (CSF Inclusive Education / SOGI / Anti-Racism Resource Hub) Online resource hub from CSF's Inclusion, Equity and Anti-Racism service providing SOGI/OSIG, anti-racism, mental health, healthy relationships, sexual health, and wellness resources segmented by audience (youth, parents, school personnel). Includes the CSF Bienveillance mindfulness/equity framework, the Équité et antiracisme policy P-104, the Franco-Colombian Pride Flag initiative, and the Bakau Equity Scan Report.
• Programme Élèves internationaux (International Students Program) CSF program for tuition-paying international students attending CSF schools in British Columbia, with a dedicated recruitment channel at csf.bc.ca/education-internationale/ and educational pathway support for internationally mobile families.
• Services TÉÉ (Travailleurs de l'éducation et de l'enfance settlement services) CSF settlement and family services for French-speaking newcomers to British Columbia, supporting their access to the francophone public education system and providing TÉÉ (Travailleurs de l'éducation et de l'enfance) services.
• Programme M-7 (Online Kindergarten to Grade 7) Online CSF program serving K-7 learners via the École Virtuelle / ÉPAL platform, intended for families wishing to homeschool or to combine CSF online registration with a brick-and-mortar school outside CSF catchment areas.
• Programme de Double accréditation (Dual Credentialing) CSF Virtual School tracks combining secondary school graduation with vocational certification in special education assistant (Aide pédagogique spécialisé), early childhood education (Éducation à la petite enfance), health care aide (Préposé aux soins de santé), holistic nutrition, social work intervention, and social economy development.
• Élèves Sans Frontières Program CSF Virtual School secondary program aimed at students abroad and internationally mobile learners, delivered via the École Virtuelle / ÉPAL online platform.
• CSF Transport scolaire School transportation service for CSF students across British Columbia, with online information, attendance zone mapping (zones de fréquentation), and a student code of conduct. Direct registration for families living in transport catchment areas.
• Cadre pour enrichir l'apprentissage (Enhancing Framework) CSF's published framework for enriching student learning, part of the 2021-2026 strategic plan, including the Early Childhood to Grade 12 Literacy Framework (Cadre de littératie de la petite enfance à la 12e année). It guides pedagogical approach and school-level projets éducatifs, with an 80.6% target attainment rate for 2025-2026.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, moderate and core.

• TFS - Canada's International School (Toronto)minorOthers · 19 August 2025Background connection only: Guylaine Frigon, appointed Executive Director of Human Resources at CSF effective August 25, 2025, previously spent 19 years as Senior Human Resources Manager at TFS. Not an active commercial or strategic partnership with CSF.
• B.C. School Trustees AssociationmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2025Co-signatory with the BC Ministry of Education, BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils, and other provincial education partner organizations on the 2025 Pride declaration honouring the 2ELGBTQIA+ community in BC's education system.
• BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2025Co-signatory on the 2025 Pride declaration; broader labour-relations and collective bargaining counterpart for CSF teaching staff via the Syndicat des enseignantes et enseignants du programme francophone de la Colombie-Britannique.
• First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2025Co-signatory on the 2025 Pride declaration and key partner for CSF's Direction de l'Éducation autochtone, supporting Indigenous education and reconciliation across CSF schools.
• First Nations Schools AssociationmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2025Co-signatory on the 2025 Pride declaration; partner organization for Indigenous education programming within CSF.
• Alliance of BC Modern Treaty NationsmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2025Co-signatory on the 2025 Pride declaration; partnership supports reconciliation and treaty-related education work.
• CUPE BCmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2025Co-signatory on the 2025 Pride declaration; CUPE represents a portion of CSF support and operational staff under collective bargaining.
• Comité FrancoQueer de l'Ouest (CFQO)moderateGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 June 2023Community partner that collaborated with CSF on the design of the first Franco-Colombian Pride flag, supporting SOGI/OSIG equity initiatives and visibility for 2SLGBTQIA+ francophones in BC.
• Conseil jeunesse francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (CJFCB)moderateGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 June 2023Youth council partner collaborating on the Franco-Colombian Pride flag and broader equity/identity programming; provides youth engagement programming for CSF students.
• Métis Nation BCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2023Consultation partner with CSF's Direction de l'Éducation autochtone (led by Bonnie Lépine-Antoine) on the Franco-Colombian Pride flag and broader reconciliation work; input from former Métis Nation BC Minister of Women and Gender Equality Monique Courcelles and regional director Patrick Harriott helped shape the flag's final design including the infinity symbol and two feathers.
• MyEducation BC (Provincial Ministry platform)coreTechnology or IntegrationCSF integrates with the BC Ministry of Education's MyEducation BC (MYEDBC) family portal for parent registration, student records, online payments, and cloud applications. The MYEDBC portal is the digital backbone for CSF family-facing services.
• Radio-Canada (CBC French-language service)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerEarned-media partner covering CSF student stories and projects, including the Victor-Brodeur inclusivity mural (Mosaïque de la fierté), the Franco-Colombian Pride flag, and alumni engagement features. Provides significant visibility for CSF programming in the broader francophone Canadian audience.
• Bakau ConsultingmoderateImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal consultant that produced the foundational CSF SD-93 Equity Scan Report (October 2022), enabling CSF's equity, SOGI/OSIG, and antiracism programming including the CSF Journée sur l'antiracisme on November 14, 2022.
• La Boutique Franco-ColombienneminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes and sells CSF-created merchandise including the Franco-Colombian Pride flag in three sizes via the Annuaire Franco-Colombien retail platform.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Conseil scolaire catholique de district des Grandes-Rivières: A French-language Catholic school board operating in Ontario; directly comparable as a minority-language publicly funded school board with K-12 mandate, multi-site network, and similar governance structure, though operating in Ontario rather than BC.
• Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud: Ontario French-language Catholic school board with comparable mandate to deliver K-12 public education to francophone minority communities; similar scale and governance model to CSF though serving a different province.
• Conseil des écoles fransaskoises: Saskatchewan's public francophone school board, operating K-12 French-language schools across a dispersed western Canadian province — a close functional analog to CSF in scope, mandate, and minority-language operating context.

Direct peers

• Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP): Nova Scotia's public francophone school board operating 22+ schools across the province for Acadian and francophone minority students; the closest direct Canadian analog to CSF in terms of provincial mandate, scale, and minority-language K-12 delivery.
• Lycée français de Vancouver: A French international school in the Vancouver area delivering K-12 French-language education to francophone and internationally mobile families; competes with CSF for international students and offers an overlapping francophone curriculum.

Broad incumbents

• Vancouver School District (SD39): BC's largest anglophone public school district; comparable as a province-based K-12 public school operator with overlapping geography in Greater Vancouver and competing for francophone-minded families via its French immersion programs.
• Conseil scolaire de l'Ontario (province-wide network): Federation representing Ontario's publicly funded French-language school boards; comparable as an organizing body for francophone minority education governance, policy, and advocacy across a large Canadian province.

Emerging players

• TFS - Canada's International School: Toronto-based French/English international school offering IB curriculum from pre-K to grade 12; comparable as a premium French-language K-12 provider with IB pathway, and notably the prior employer of CSF's incoming Executive Director of HR.

Others

• MyEducation BC (Provincial Platform): Provincial K-12 student information system operated by the BC Ministry of Education and integrated with CSF as its family portal backbone; comparable as a strategic technology platform underpinning CSF's digital family-facing services.
• FNESC (First Nations Education Steering Committee): BC-wide Indigenous education organization partnering with CSF on the Indigenous Education Council and 2025 Pride declaration; comparable as an adjacent governance and policy stakeholder in BC's K-12 francophone and Indigenous education ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2KtviYg6EQhmrdaZVoVhdA/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/CSF.Colombie.Britannique
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conseil-scolaire-francophone-de-la-colombie-britannique
• Instagraminstagram.com/csf_cb
• Xx.com/CsfCb

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Francophone School Board