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POLICY STATEMENT

Funding is provided to Boards of Education for the operation and provision of public education programs in British Columbia.

RATIONALE

Under the School Act, the provincial government supports the provision of public education programs to school age residents of British Columbia.

LEGISLATION/ REGULATIONS

See Sections 82, 106.3, 106.4, and 114 of the School Act.

ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS

Definition - "School age student:" A student between the age of 5 by December 31 of the current calendar year and 19 on or after July 1 of the current school year.

Definition - "Kindergarten students:" Students 5 years of age at December 31 of the current school year are funded at 0.5 FTE (full-time equivalent) unless the student qualifies for full day kindergarten (see 1701 Form Instructions for additional information).

Definition - "Elementary students in Grades 1 to 7:" Students in these grades are funded as a full FTE.

Definition - "Secondary students in Grades 8 to 9 FTE:" Calculated based on 8 courses being one FTE.  Each full course (four credits) is funded as 0.125 of an FTE, up to 8 courses. A base minimum of 0.5 FTE is provided for secondary school age (non-graduated) students.  This applies to students enrolled in regular, continuing education and alternate schools.  For students enrolled in Distributed Learning, refer to the Distributed Learning Funding policy.


Definition - "Secondary students in Grades 10 to 12 FTE:" Calculated based on each full course (four credits) funded as 0.125 of an FTE, with no maximum (see 1701 Form Instructions for exceptions). This applies to students enrolled in regular, continuing education and alternate schools, and to both graduates and non-graduates. For adult students refer to the Adult Funding Policy. For students enrolled in Distributed Learning, refer to the Distributed Learning Funding policy.

Definition - "School year:" the period from July 1 to June 30.

POLICY

Public school funding is allocated using a largely student-based funding system, with the majority of funding allocated on a per FTE basis.  Supplemental grants are provided to Boards of Education to address the variable costs associated with declining enrolment, special needs, English as a Second Language, Aboriginal Education, educator salaries, transportation, and unique geographic factors.

This policy describes the way all students are funded under this system. More details regarding the additional funds provided for students with special needs can be found through the following links: Special Needs Funding, English as a Second Language (ESL) Funding, Aboriginal Education Funding, Adult Funding, Distributed Learning Funding. Information regarding the supplemental grants can be found in the Funding Allocation System.

Students under the age of 16 must attend school but have the option of enrolling in public schools, independent schools, Distributed Learning or registering as a home-schooled learner.

Boards of Education receive operating grants from the Ministry of Education as calculated through the Funding Allocation System.

To be eligible for provincial funding, Boards of Education must ensure that students are:

• ordinarily resident in BC (and where applicable for school-age students) with their parent/legal guardian
• enrolled in the district
• under the supervision of, assessed and evaluated by a member of the BC College of Teachers
• provided the requirements for an educational program set out in the following Ministerial Orders:
• 295/95 Required Areas of Study for students in Grades K-9
• 205/95 Graduation Requirements for students in Grades 11-12 (1995 program)
• 302/04 Graduation Program Order for students in Grades 10-12 (2004 program)

Capital funding is provided through a separate grant. See the Capital Planning website for details.

Students who are not ordinarily resident in the province may be eligible for funding, under circumstances described in the International Students Policy.

Partial or shorter courses (e.g., 2 credit courses) are prorated when calculating the FTE for secondary students.
Courses that are challenged are funded at 1/32 of the Basic Allocation per FTE amount.

Courses taken in BC outside of the public school system (through colleges, post-secondary institutions, private organizations, etc.) are not funded unless permission and support is arranged through the Board of Education, and the course is taken for credit towards grade 12 graduation.

Non-graduate, school-age students who are enrolled in alternate schools, defined as schools identified as school type 3 on Form 1601, are funded as 1 FTE regardless of the number of courses enrolled.

School age students working towards their grade 12 graduation will be funded until the end of the school year in which they reach the age of 19.

Students who have not received the grade 12 graduation certificate by age 19 may be eligible for funding as an adult student, and only for courses leading to graduation. Please refer to the Adult Funding Policy for details.

PROCEDURES

Estimates of each Board of Education's operating grant for the coming school year are announced on or before March 15 prior to the start of the school year.
Students registered and in attendance in a public school, or in the case of students learning from home, registered and actively participating in an education program on September 30 of the school year must be reported on the Form 1701 (1701 Form Instructions)

Operating grants are recalculated and finalized based on actual enrolments as reported on September 30. These final grants are usually announced in late autumn.