September 18, 2005
VICTORIA – The BC Liberal Government is increasing support for students with special needs by providing an additional $9.3 million for special education this year, Education Minister Shirley Bond announced today.
“Two of our government’s great goals are to build the best system of support for people with special needs in Canada and make B.C. the best-educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent,” said Bond. “This additional funding will help us reach our goals and help every student reach his or her full potential.”
The Province will provide funding to school districts for any additional special needs students who have transferred into a district or who have been identified after the Sept. 30 final enrolment report. Districts with a decline in special needs students since Sept. 30 will see no change in funding. The Province is projected to provide districts with about $1 million in additional funding.
The Province will also fully fund students with special needs in independent schools. Independent schools currently receive half of the funding provided to public schools for special needs students. As a result of the funding change, the Province will add about $8.3 million more for special needs students in independent schools.
“This is wonderful news for our family and other families,” said Caroline Mavridis, a mother of twins with Down syndrome who attend Pacific Christian School in Victoria. “I just want to say ‘thank you.’ It’s a huge relief. For Neil and Scott, it means they have a better chance for their education. They are learning, growing and reading, and I’m so proud of them. It opens up possibilities for other children too.”
Special education grants are given to public and funded independent schools to help special needs students identified as level 1, 2 or 3 receive an education. The grants help pay for the extra costs of adapting programs and providing needed physical, health, intellectual and psychological services.
“This increased funding is about equity,” said Bond. “It will eliminate an economic barrier that prevented some students from attending independent schools and provide school boards with funding for every special needs student. Increased funding will give families more choices and give students more opportunities to achieve their best.”
Level 1, 2 and 3 special needs students include those who are physically dependent, deaf, blind, autistic, have profound intellectual disabilities or chronic health impairments or have severe behaviour problems. In 2004/05, there were 850 level 1, 2 and 3 special needs students in the independent school system and 19,694 in the public system.
The Province increased funding for levels 1, 2 and 3 special needs students this year by $2,000, $1,000 and $2,000, respectively. As a result of that increase, school districts will receive an estimated $270 million this year for students with special needs – an increase of $28 million over last year. Overall funding for students with special needs has increased this year by more than $37 million.
