--- title: "Where Richmond's parties stand on schools | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/issues/schools" last_updated: "2026-10-31T17:02:47.475Z" meta: description: "Every Richmond party's position on schools and the school district for the October 17, 2026 election, side by side, each one sourced and dated." "og:description": "Every Richmond party's position on schools and the school district for the October 17, 2026 election, side by side, each one sourced and dated." "og:title": "Where Richmond's parties stand on schools" "twitter:description": "Every Richmond party's position on schools and the school district for the October 17, 2026 election, side by side, each one sourced and dated." "twitter:title": "Where Richmond's parties stand on schools" --- SCHOOL TRUSTEE ยท Richmond 2026 # Where every party stands on schools 3 of the 6 parties on the October 17 ballot have published something on schools and the school district. Here they are side by side, each with its source. [All four issues ](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/compare) [All parties](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties) **3**Parties with a published position **17**Commitments in total BEFORE YOU COMPARE ## Who actually decides this The School Act gives the Board of Education of School District No. 38 (Richmond) the duty to run the district's public schools and set its policies. Richmond voters elect its seven trustees. Read the commitments below against that. Where a party proposes something the city cannot do on its own, the commitment carries a line naming who holds the power. That is not a criticism of the promise. A council can lobby, fund and argue, and saying so plainly is more useful than pretending the limit does not exist. WHAT THE COMPARISON SHOWS ## Reading this ballot on schools 3 of the 6 parties have published something here, and between them they have made 17 separate commitments. Advance Richmond has published the most, with 7. Not one of these commitments carries a dollar figure, a count or a percentage. They set a direction, which means there is nothing here to check against a budget later. SIDE BY SIDE ## Every published position on schools | Party | Published position | Commitments | | --- | --- | --- | | [Advance Richmond](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/platform/schools) | Advance Richmond's trustee candidates promised to let the public speak on agenda items at board and committee meetings, to publish data on substance use, bullying and violence against staff, to set up a business advisory committee for the district, and to expand co-op and internship programs. All three elected trustees promised to advocate for adequate funding of public education. | 7 | | [Richmond Education Party](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/richmond-education-party/platform/schools) | The Richmond Education Party's platform has five areas: high-quality instruction and supports for every student, safe and seismically sound schools with up-to-date technology, mental health, anti-racism and equity supports, transparent and fiscally responsible governance, and partnerships with families and community groups to expand childcare. Ken Hamaguchi's statement to the City names four focuses: students, inclusion and equity, staff, and facilities. | 6 | | [Common Sense](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/common-sense-alliance/platform/schools) | Common Sense has no school platform of its own; Richmond News's columnist noted this on September 30, 2026. Alice Wong, its one trustee candidate and a two-term trustee, told the City she is committed to putting students first, preparing students for the future, building strong school communities and responsible, transparent stewardship of public education resources. In the Richmond News questionnaire she said yes to more trades education, drug awareness in high school and the district's SOGI policies. | 4 | | [Richmond Forward](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/richmond-forward/platform/schools) | *Nothing published. Checked October 30, 2026.* | โ€” | | [Richmond United](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/richmond-united/platform/schools) | *Nothing published. Checked October 30, 2026.* | โ€” | | [RITE Richmond](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/rite-richmond/platform/schools) | *Nothing published. Checked October 30, 2026.* | โ€” | ADVANCE RICHMOND ## Public delegations at board meetings, published data on bullying and drug use at schools, and work experience programs Advance Richmond's trustee candidates promised to let the public speak on agenda items at board and committee meetings, to publish data on substance use, bullying and violence against staff, to set up a business advisory committee for the district, and to expand co-op and internship programs. All three elected trustees promised to advocate for adequate funding of public education. - Let the public speak on agenda items at board and committee meetings - Publish data on substance use, bullying and violence at schools - First in BC in literacy, math and graduation rates - A Richmond Business Community Advisory Committee [Read all 7 Advance Richmond commitments, with sources ](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/advance-richmond/platform/schools) RICHMOND EDUCATION PARTY ## Safe and seismically sound schools, mental health and anti-racism supports, stable governance, and more childcare through partnerships The Richmond Education Party's platform has five areas: high-quality instruction and supports for every student, safe and seismically sound schools with up-to-date technology, mental health, anti-racism and equity supports, transparent and fiscally responsible governance, and partnerships with families and community groups to expand childcare. Ken Hamaguchi's statement to the City names four focuses: students, inclusion and equity, staff, and facilities. - High-quality instruction and supports for every student - Safe, seismically sound and technologically equipped schools - Mental health, anti-racism and equity supports - Transparent, fiscally responsible and stable governance [Read all 6 Richmond Education Party commitments, with sources ](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/richmond-education-party/platform/schools) COMMON SENSE ## Alice Wong's priorities: students first, more trades education, and responsible use of district resources Common Sense has no school platform of its own; Richmond News's columnist noted this on September 30, 2026. Alice Wong, its one trustee candidate and a two-term trustee, told the City she is committed to putting students first, preparing students for the future, building strong school communities and responsible, transparent stewardship of public education resources. In the Richmond News questionnaire she said yes to more trades education, drug awareness in high school and the district's SOGI policies. - Put students first and prepare them for the future - More trades and career education alongside academic programs - Drug awareness taught in high school - Keep the district's SOGI policies, with parents as partners [Read all 4 Common Sense commitments, with sources ](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/common-sense-alliance/platform/schools) NOTHING PUBLISHED YET ## 3 parties have published nothing on this A blank records that we looked on the date shown and found nothing on the public record. Some parties are not contesting the race that decides this subject, which is a reason to publish nothing on it. - ### [Richmond Forward](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/richmond-forward/platform/schools) Nothing published on schools. Checked October 30, 2026. - ### [Richmond United](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/richmond-united/platform/schools) Nothing published on schools. Checked October 30, 2026. - ### [RITE Richmond](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/rite-richmond/platform/schools) Nothing published on schools. Checked October 30, 2026. ## Compare another issue [Housing](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/issues/housing) [Budget](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/issues/taxes-and-budget) [Governance](https://voche.me/bc/richmond-2026/parties/issues/governance) ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/bc/richmond-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.