LIF funding was established in 2012 to address the unpaid work performed by Education Assistants, a lack of stable EA hours and livable earnings, and to improve bell-to-bell EA coverage (2011 Provincial LOA). In order of seniority, 20+ EAs who are assigned to work less than 35 hours a week are offered 30 additional minutes per day. LIF time is meant to be flexible and not built into the employee’s schedule. It can be added to the start or end of a day, or used to fill an unpaid break — You have a say in the best use of your time.
The additional time can be used to read IEPs and Safety Plans, create visual schedules or talking boards, collaborate with teachers and other EAs, attend meetings such as School Based Teams, complete Professional Development related to the implementation of an Individual Education Plan or on occasion assisting a student through a difficult transition — though this should not become a permanent solution (2014 Local LOA).
In 2019 CUPE476 members voted to move a portion of the LIF funding to fund Professional Development.