BC increases funding for students as province see highest enrolment numbers since 2004

The Government of British Columbia is investing $204 million in grants for public school districts as the number of students across the province grows to over 667,000 – the highest since 2004.

According to a news release, “this is on top of more than $6.3 billion being provided from preliminary estimates in March, and is the result of an increase of more than 10,500 students in BC public schools this past September.”

The increases, based off enrolment numbers in September, will include:

• $69.6 million for students with special needs

• $7.5 million for Indigenous education

• $3.7 million for English and French language learning

Preliminary operating grants are sent out in March while operating grants, based on actual enrolment at the end of September, are sent out in December.

School districts can use the additional funding to provide support and services to students who are in care, Indigenous, attend rural schools, who have special needs or mental-health needs.

School districts can also use the grants to provide services to students including counselling, tutoring, mental-health services or hiring support staff.

Rural schools can access $331 million, $9.7 million more than last year.

Indigenous students will receive support from $98.4 million – an increase of $28.8 million since the 2016-17 school year.

Students with special needs will be supported by $696.6 million in supplemental funding, an increase of $231.9 million from the 2016 school year.