March 2011: student Enrolment is UP in BC, teachers are the ones declining
Fewer teachers, more BC students now in larger classes
BCTF media release highlights what the BC Education Coalition first reported here last fall (see our August 2010 BC Education Facts – Reality Check below). BC Education Ministry stats contradict claims of continuing enrolment declines by the Education Minister. Overall, K-12 enrolment in BC’s public schools increased by 2,595 full-time equivalent students in 2010. At the same time, the total number of teachers in BC declined, as schools were forced to cut staffing due to provincial underfunding. Read the BCTF release
A new BCTF research report based on official Ministry and federal stats confirms many of the trends we highlighted earlier here in our own research summary. This excellent new resource provides a detailed picture of BC’s public education system today and highlights recent trends, including a sharp decline in the number of specialist teachers. Particularly worrying is that the sharpest decline is in the number of special education teachers since 2001, despite an increase in the total number of students with special needs. Read the report
Updated! BC Public Education Facts – REALITY CHECK
August 2010: BC Public Education background facts, compiled primarily from Statistics Canada and BC Ministry data, that you may find useful – and eye opening! Click here to access the PDF version
Capital investment in BC’s Public Schools – Reality Check
August 2010: We’ve fact-checked the BC Government’s “Facts” about capital investments in BC’s public schools since 2001 against BC Education Ministry data (and found the government’s “facts” to be sorely wanting!). Although government continues to talk about declining enrolment, did you know that overall enrolment in BC is rising again and is expected to continue rising in future, even as many districts are being pressured to close schools? Click here for a PDF
Web tools
BC Education Analysis: Check out this cool Website created by Prince George parent Sarah Holland showing useful stats like staffing ratios, enrolment trends and school closures.
CBC.ca: This CBC video clip explains in detail the roots of Vancouver’s $18 million funding shortfall and the tough choices this imposes on local board officials in deciding how students should pay the price.
(Find more Web tools and resources on our Links page)
Reports
Here are some recent reports that may be useful to public education advocacy.
New! Cost of an average BC classroom 2009-2010
Where does all the money go? Ministry of Education data provide the basis for a detailed breakdown of what it currently costs to operate the average classroom in BC.
2010-11 Education Budget Highlights (Ontario)
Ontario Education Ministry Fact sheet (Ontario spends significantly more per student on public education than BC does and it increased budgets for 2010-11 by 4.5%).
Statistics Canada: Summary Public School Indicators for the Provinces & Territories, 2000/2001 to 2006/2007
This annual report provides an excellent overview of key indicators – funding, outcomes, staffing, salaries, graduation rates, with trends and comparisons between provinces. This is the latest report (the stats are always a few years out of date by the time they publish it).
Projection Report for Public School Headcount Enrolments 2009/10
Ministry of Education’s projections for future enrolment by district for the next 10 years, updated March 2010. (It doesn’t look like this report includes the additional enrolment linked to the implementation of Full-day Kindergarten, but will add/update if I can find that)
2009 report of the bipartisan provincial Standing Committee on Finance & Government Services
Committee recommends review of provincial education formula
In December 2009 the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services made these recommendations related to funding K-12 education.
The Finance Committee recommends that the provincial government:
9. Work with boards of education to conduct a comprehensive review of the education funding formula.
10. Work cooperatively with the boards of education on a review of the administrative and reporting requirements for each school district and within the Ministry of Education.
11. Treat the annual facilities grant as a high priority for funding in the 2010/11 Budget.
12. Ensure that the implementation of all-day kindergarten is fully funded.
13. Enhance capacity within ministries and at the community level so that the planning and funding of adult literacy services are effective and well coordinated.
BC Association of School Business Officials’ report
Secretary-Treasurers predict unprecented funding shortfall
BC school district secretary-treasurers anticipate a $300 million funding shortfall for BC school districts this year to maintain status quo.
Centre for Civic Governance
‘When More is Less’
A study of K-12 education funding by this Canadian think tank shows that the government has created an estimated $132 million shortfall by underfunding boards ofeducation over the past seven years, following major changes to how school boards are funded.
Saanich budget presentation:
Public Education funding – learning from the past
This February 2010 Powerpoint Presentation has some very useful background information. Slide 4 shows how BC’s Education budget has declined as a proportion of overall provincial spending in recent years.
BCCPAC resolutions on provincial underfunding
15 Years of resolutions document growing underfunding gap
Recent news of court challenges and calls for a royal commission have highlighted the broad public concerns over public education funding. But this crisis has been many years in the making, as reflected in a review of resolutions adopted since 1995 by the province’s Parent Advisory Councils through BCCPAC. The list chronicles the creation of a deep structural fiscal crisis that the Province has ignored and further exacerbated. Click here for more.
BCTF research report on education funding crisis
Education funding in crisis: Will the 2010-11 budget make a difference?
This March 2010 report by research analyst Margaret White explores how “more funding than ever” actually translates to fewer dollars on the ground to maintain core front-line public education services each year, even when you control for enrolment shifts. Download the report
The Charter for Public Education Network
Founded in 2004, this organization welcomes new members and supports research and advocacy to build strong public schools for all students in BC. Visit the CPEN Website
BC Society for Public Education
Provincial society dedicated to protecting BC’s public education system. Visit the BCSPE Website
