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For The Record

THE FACTS ON B.C. SCHOOLS SINCE 2001

April 7, 2009
Ministry of Education
 

Here are the facts on the Province’s investments in education:

CLAIM: 177 schools closed.

FACT:

  • As a result of declining enrolment, Boards of Education began closing schools in the mid-1990s. Declining enrolment continues today and is anticipated to continue until 2014-15.
  • Since 2000-01, student enrolment has declined by nearly 53,000 students. Districts are reporting that they expect that number to be nearly 60,000 fewer students by 2009-10 – a decline of nearly 10 per cent.
  • The government has committed more than $83 million to maximize community use in underutilized school space through Neighbourhoods of Learning, School Community Connections program and StrongStart BC early learning centres.
  • The Province continues to renovate, replace, and build schools where there is need.
  • Since 2001, the Province has committed more than $3.1 billion in school capital and maintenance projects across B.C. This includes spending more than $1.4 billion to complete 75 new and replacement schools, 147 additions, 25 renovations, and 20 site acquisitions.
  • All new and replacement schools have been constructed to meet the latest seismic standards.
  • The total of completed and in-progress school seismic projects across the province is now 116.

CLAIM: 10,000 overcrowded classes.

FACT:

  • B.C. is the only province in Canada to undertake a detailed analysis of class size and composition.
  • For the third consecutive year, more than 95 per cent of classes in school districts throughout B.C. have 30 or fewer students, and 99 per cent of classes have 32 or fewer students.
  • The number of classes in B.C. with more than 30 students has decreased since 2005-06 by nearly 64 per cent, from 9,253 to 3,336. 
  • There are now 6,277 K-12 classes with 15 or fewer students
  • There are 2,434 K-12 classes with fewer than 10 students
  • Class size legislation passed in 2006 established new class size limits, a consultation process with classroom teachers, and enhanced reporting mechanisms, while giving local boards the flexibility to structure classes based on local needs.
  • For Grades 4-7, classes with more than 30 students require the consent of the teacher and for Grades 8-12, classes with more than 30 students require consultation with the teacher. For every class over 30, districts must provide a rationale for the classroom arrangement.
  • Many of the classes that exceed 30 students do so because they involve subjects that can benefit from large numbers of students participating, such as drama, band, physical education or fine arts courses.

CLAIM: Special needs students have been neglected.

FACT:

  • Total funding for students with special needs is close to three quarters of a billion dollars annually.
  • In 2006, the Province expanded the definition of Autism to include students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Districts now receive $16,000 per year in supplementary funding for students with ASD.
  • In 2005, the Province made changes to ensure students with special needs attending independent schools are funded at 100 per cent.
  • The School Act requires school principals to consult with classroom teachers for each class with more than three students with special needs.
  • In all classes that have more than three students with special needs, the principals have provided their assurance that the learning conditions for all students in the class are appropriate.
  • Since 2005, the number of classes with education assistants has increased by nearly 30% and there are now 16,351 classes with assigned education assistants – that’s 24% of all classes and 972 more classes than 2007/08.
  • There are currently 3,449 FTE learning assistance and special education teachers in B.C., a modest increase over last year.
  • This is the fourth year in a row districts have hired additional staff in this area. Districts have hired more than 137 additional FTE special education teachers since 2004-05.
  • Teacher assistant time usually assigned to students with special needs has also increased. There are currently 8,815 FTE teacher assistants in B.C., an increase of 475 (new hires) – or about 5.7 per cent – over last year.
  • In 2008-09, supplemental funding for Level 1, 2 and 3 students with special needs at B.C. public schools is $308 million:
    • Level 1 students with special needs will receive about $21.6 million ($32,000 per student)
    • Level 2 students with special needs will receive about $228.4 million ($16,000 per student)
    • Level 3 students with special needs will receive about $58 million ($8,000 per student)
  • For the first time, in 2006/07, the Province issued School Completion Certificates for 680 students with special needs, officially recognizing the considerable achievements of students with special needs. In 2007/08, the number of School Completion Certificates issued to students with special needs rose to 975.

FACT:

  • K – 12 education budget is at the highest level ever – nearly $5.2 billion – a 27 per cent increase from 2000-01, despite declining enrolment of nearly 53,000 over the same period.
  • $4.551 billion in estimated operating funding in 2009-10 – an $84-million increase from 2008-09.
  • $8,323 in estimated per student funding for 2009-10 – the highest ever, a $205 increase from 2008-09 and $2,107 more than 2000-01.