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School Funding Increases as Enrolment Continues to Drop

March 15, 2006

VICTORIA – The average per pupil operating grant will rise for the sixth year in a row next year as funding for B.C. public schools continues to increase while enrolment declines, Education Minister Shirley Bond announced today.

“We are increasing funding for school districts next year by $20 million, while at the same time districts forecast they will have 7,000 fewer students,” said Bond. “As a result, the average per pupil grant will increase by $114 to an estimated $7,207 – the highest ever. Since 2000/01, the per pupil grant has increased by $991.”

Bond made the announcement while releasing the 2006/07 preliminary operating grants for B.C.’s 60 school districts. Operating funding for school districts next year will increase to $4.055 billion. This does not include costs for wage and benefit settlements in the K-12 education sector, which will be funded through the Province’s $6-billion negotiating framework. Next year’s $20-million increase is on top of the $150-million increase in 2005/06, which remains a part of the district grants for 2006/07.

“B.C. has an exceptional education system, and this funding will help ensure our students continue to be among the best in the world,” said Bond. “We are asking school boards to focus these additional resources on priority areas such as class size and composition. Boards will also have to report on how they use the funds.”

School districts forecast there will be 560,741 full-time students in September, down from 567,823 this year. Fifty-two of the 60 districts project they will have fewer students in the 2006/07 school year.

“Student enrolment is declining across Canada,” Bond said. “Here in B.C., enrolment is projected to decrease by another 30,000 students over the next five years. That’s why we have put in place funding measures to help school districts deal with the challenge of fewer students.”

The Province provides school districts with extra funds when the enrolment decrease is greater than one per cent in a year. The Province also provides additional funding for districts with a decrease in enrolment of four per cent or more, and for districts with a decrease of seven per cent or more over the previous three years.
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Authorized By Jim Pipe, Financial Agent BC Liberal Party.
Tel: 604.606.6000, 1.800.567.2257