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Your B.C. Government

K-12 Investment in Schools

Despite declining enrolment, the Province has raised education funding for K-12 to the highest levels in B.C. history to ensure students and teachers have the resources they need.

What your B.C. Government is doing for K-12 Investment in Schools:

  • K–12 education spending is at the highest level ever – $5.774 billion – an increase of $1.456 billion, or 34 per cent, since 2000-01, despite declining enrolment of nearly 53,000 students over the same period
  • The Ministry of Education budget for 2009-10 is nearly $5.2B, while enrolment is anticipated to decline by another 7,000 students.
  • School districts will see an $84M increase in operating funding this year. (2009/10)
  • Per-pupil funding is at the highest level ever – an estimated $8,323 in 2009-10, an increase of $205 over last year and an increase of $2,107 since 2000-01. (33%)
  • Since 2001, your B.C. Government has invested over $1.4 billion to complete 75 new and replacement schools, 147 school additions, 25 school renovation projects and 20 school site acquisitions.
  • By the end of 2009-10, the Province will have invested more than $3.8 billion in school capital and maintenance projects across B.C.
  • Since 2001, government has supported the construction of 12,450 new student spaces.
  • $1.5 billion has been committed to seismically upgrade priority schools to ensure student safety. To date (as of Mar 2009), the Province has advanced 116 high priority schools for seismic upgrading. Of those schools:
    • 42 are completed
    • 32 are under construction
    • 42 are proceeding to construction
  • We’ve invested nearly $1 billion in literacy and literacy-related initiatives since 2001, which includes over $154 million in new literacy initiatives to support preschool aged children, K-12 students, and adult learners.
  • Nearly $750 million annually goes to support K-12 students with special needs.
  • $407 million in additional one-time funding grants to B.C. school districts since 2001, including special funding to add 12,000 new computers in B.C. schools and $10 million for new textbooks.
  • Investing $43 million to establish StrongStart BC early learning centres around the province to support pre-school age children.
  • The Province is investing $30-million in Neighbourhoods of Learning projects to bring community and other education services together with K-12 education in a single neighbourhood hub and make use of surplus school space as student enrolment declines.

For More Information:
Seismic upgrades
StrongStart BC
ReadNow BC
Adult Graduation program
LearnNow BC
Information on B.C. Schools and School districts – reporting and funding