Skip to main content

Skip to navigation

The access keys for this page are:

For The Record

PROVINCE INCREASES FUNDS FOR SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM

Sept. 10, 2009
Ministry of Education
 

Letters to the Editor

  • In the face of tough economic times, funding for the Province’s CommunityLINK program to help vulnerable children is going up to more than $51 million this year.
  • The Ministry of Education and Housing and Social Development have partnered to support this program.
  • This year, $48,454,000 is coming from community gaming grants and $2,551,912 from the education budget, bringing total funding to $51,005,912.
  • That’s an increase of more than half-a-million dollars from the $50,495 million provided for the last school year.
  • Last year, CommunityLINK funding increased from $45.8 million to nearly $50.5 million.
  • CommunityLINK (Learning Includes Nutrition and Knowledge)  provides funding to all 60 boards of education. 
  • The funding helps school districts provide services such as breakfast and lunch programs, inner city and community school programs, school-based support workers and counselling for at-risk children and youth.
  • The purpose of CommunityLINK programs and services is to improve the educational performance of vulnerable students.
  • In determining which students may be vulnerable, school districts may consider:  low income measures; involvement with the provincial social service ministries and related agencies; community socio-economic demographics; information obtained through community mapping; and other relevant information including staff observation and self-identification.
  • School districts have the responsibility and flexibility to determine the most effective use of CommunityLINK funding for programs and services to support vulnerable students in their districts.
  • CommunityLINK funding generally goes to support meal and snack programs, child and youth workers, inner city and community schools and healthy schools and literacy. 

Provincially, the following trends emerge:

    • approximately 25% is used for meal programs including hot lunches, bagged lunches, breakfasts and healthy snacks. Many districts partner with local organizations to leverage this funding further
    • approximately 40% is used for child and youth workers who provide targeted assistance to vulnerable children and youth
    • approximately 25% of the funding is used for inner city and community schools
    • the remaining 10% of the funding is used for healthy schools, literacy and other local initiatives
Back to topTop

Letters to the Editor

Sept. 11, 2009
Letter to the Editor
HOT LUNCH PROGRAM FUNDING INCREASED
By Margaret MacDiarmid
Minister of Education
Submitted: Victoria Times Colonist
Status: Published September 11, 2009
Funding for the Province's CommunityLINK program to help vulnerable children is going up to more than $51 million this year. [Read More]