Education Costs In B.C.

VICTORIA – The following facts provide a snapshot of British Columbia’s public education system:

Enrollment for the 2012-13 school year

• 534,691 estimated full-time public school students this September, compared to 540,696 for the September 2011 estimate (6,005 fewer students).
• Since 2000-01, there has been a decrease of more than 63,000 students.
• 58,962 estimated English Language Learning (ELL) students – 202 fewer than last year.
• 54,031 estimated Aboriginal students – 258 fewer than last year.
• 23,832 estimated full-time students with special needs for 2012-13 – 38 fewer than last year.
•  6,903 estimated non-graduated adult students – 613 more than last year.

Class Size

• At 16.7, the ratio of students per teacher/administrator has remained relatively stable over the past decade.
• For the sixth consecutive year, more than 94 per cent of classes in school districts throughout B.C. had 30 or fewer students
• In 2011-12, 99 per cent of classes had 32 or fewer students.
• A total of 4,485 classes had 15 or fewer students in 2011-12.
• There were 259 more full time equivalent education assistants in 2011-12 compared to the year before, bringing the total to 9,037.

Funding

• Estimated operating funding to school districts is a record $4.725 billion this year – a $4-million increase over 2011-12.
• Since 2000-01, government has increased funding to B.C. public schools by nearly $1.4 billion: a 26 per cent increase in operating funding ($981 million) and $407 million in one-time grants.
• The average per-pupil funding for 2012-13 is now an estimated $8,493, up 36 per cent since 2000-01.
• Total funding for students with special needs is now an estimated $866 million for 2012-13.
• The new Learning Improvement Fund (LIF) will provide an additional $195 million over three years for school districts to:

o   Hire additional teachers and special education assistants.

o   Provide additional teaching time.

o   Support professional development and training to help teachers meet complex needs in their classrooms.

• To support BC’s Education Plan, $10.7 million is being provided to support early reading in every school district for students in kindergarten to Grade 3.