What’s the issue?
Current government funding is based on a per-student allocation and does not account for differing needs of students or locations. Many parents are supplementing their children’s education to make up for gaps they see and find much of the time they spend in school is of a day-care nature rather than educational.
Who is impacted by this issue?
- Parents and kids in rural areas or those looking for alternative educational options.
- Rural school and boards of education, including SD8
- BC Teachers Federation
- Various non-profits and NGOs working in BC education including the BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils
What role is the government currently playing?
Public education is funded by the provincial government, but to varying degrees: Wildflower (100%), Waldorf (50%), and SelfDesign (100%). The truth is, however, no option is 100% funded by the government with much fundraising being raised by parents.
The government, through the Ministry of Education, has almost complete control over how money is allocated into the BC education system.
What’s the ideal?
A new funding model for the K-12 public education system with a view to ensuring equitable access for students. This could include targeting funding to public schools with the greatest need and increasing local autonomy regarding funding priorities and distribution, which has big implications for our small communities that have embraced many alternatives to the standard.
Local decision-making would enable more appropriate distribution of funds and input from families and local educators.
- Ability to direct funding to meet the areas of greatest need.
2. More local autonomy regarding funding priorities and distribution.
3. More effective distribution of funds.
What’s next?
In a February 2017 letter from the BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils, the Minister of Finance was asked to “Allow the Ministry of Education to re-examine, recalculate and rework the ministry funding formula to address and fully fund all structural deficits and new programs mandated by the government.”
Budget implications: no new funding required.
