VICTORIA - Despite a significant projected decline in the number of students, the B.C. government is maintaining total K-12 funding for school operating grants at $4.725 billion for 2013-14.

The average per-pupil funding in the K-12 sector will increase to $8,603 in 2013-14, the highest ever. Since 2000-01, average per-pupil funding has increased by 37.4 per cent. School district enrolment projections indicate that 50 of B.C.'s school districts will have fewer students during 2013-14. School districts are projecting a total of 541,618 FTE (full time equivalent) students in 2013-14, a decrease of 6,246 FTE students compared to 2012-13.

As a result of local enrolment projections and the higher per-pupil allocation, grants to eight districts will increase. In the remaining 52 districts, funding protection of $39 million will ensure that any allocation declines are limited to a maximum of 1.5 per cent compared to September 2012. A total of $59.6 million is set aside in holdback funding in the event actual student enrolment is higher than currently projected by school districts.

Again this year, $10.6 million is dedicated to initiatives related to the implementation of BC’s Education Plan. Specific projects and initiatives for 2013-14 will include continuing support for the changing results for young readers initiative and to increase trades awareness and skills training opportunities. In addition to the operating grants, in 2013-14 the Ministry of Education will provide school districts with $60 million through the Learning Improvement Fund.

Quick Facts:

• Approximately 500 more teachers, hired at a cost of $37 million.
• $17.3 million devoted to special education, increasing hours of work for more than 7,400 existing assistants and placing more than 400 new teacher assistants in schools.
• $1.8 million devoted to professional development.

• Since 2000-01, operating grant funding to school districts has risen from $3.744 billion to $4.725 billion, an increase of 26.2 per cent.
• Since 2000-01, student enrolment has dropped from 597,948 to an estimated 541,618, a decline of 9.4 per cent.
• The Ministry of Education is investing $210 million over three years to support the Learning Improvement Fund. For the current 2012-13 school year, the fund is being used to provide extra support to virtually every public school in the province, including:

Learn More:

BC’s Education Plan: http://WWW.BCEDPLAN.CA

Provincewide enrolment and funding information for 2013-14: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/k12funding/

Contact:
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963