EDUCATION BY THE NUMBERS

INFORMATION BULLETIN
For Immediate Release
2007EDU0109-001024
Aug. 17, 2007
Ministry of Education

VICTORIA – As more than half a million students get ready to return to school on Sept. 4, the following provides a snapshot of B.C.’s school system – by the numbers:

Increased Funding

• $5.494-billion education budget – a 19.18 per cent increase from 2000-01.
• $7,932 in estimated per student funding in 2007-08 – the highest ever, a $336 increase from 2006-07 and $1,716 more since 2000-01.
• $4.345 billion in estimated operating funding in 2007-08 – a $116-million increase from 2006-07.
• Over $1-billion increase to B.C. public schools since 2000-01: $667 million in operating grants and $407 million in one-time grants.
• Funding for ESL students is increased by an estimated $3.8 million.
• Funding for Aboriginal students is increased by an estimated $3 million.
• Total funding for students with special needs is now over half a billion dollars each year.
• $106 million in literacy initiatives since 2001.
• $1.5 billion for a 15-year plan to upgrade schools to make them earthquake safe; the most comprehensive seismic plan ever undertaken by a B.C. government.
• Since 2001, government has spent over $1.1 billion on 26 new schools, 35 replacements, 144 additions and 25 renovations.
• By the end of 2008-09, the Province will have invested more than $2.8 billion in school capital and maintenance projects across British Columbia.

Fewer Students

• 547,840 estimated FTE public school students for 2007-08 – 7,574 fewer than in 2006-07 and over 50,000 fewer than in 2000-01.
• 57,316 estimated FTE English-as-a-second-language students (07/08) – 407 fewer than in 06/07.
• 50,411 estimated FTE Aboriginal students (2007-08) – 226 fewer than in 2006-07.
• 20,663 estimated FTE students with special needs (2007-08) – 82 fewer than in 2006-07.
• 8,602 FTE adult students (2007-08) – 91 fewer than in 2006-07.
• Despite declining enrolment, 319 additional teachers hired at B.C. public schools in 2006-07.

Record Levels of Achievement

• 79 per cent of students graduated in 2005-06 – this has held steady for the fourth year in a row.
• 5,055 students received scholarships in 2005-06 for scoring high marks on Grade 12 provincial exams, which is a five per cent increase from the previous year.
• In 2006-07, 72 per cent of Grade 10 students, up 17 per cent from 2001-02, and 37 per cent of Grade 12 students, up 12 per cent from 2001-02, say they get exercise at school most or all of the time.
• Staff satisfaction with student learning is up two per cent from 2006 and five per cent from 2003.
• More students are learning how to stay healthy and Grade 7 students showed the largest increase with six per cent from last year.

Recent Key Investments in B.C. Schools

• $5-million investment in StrongStart BC Centres, with up to 80 centres open by the end of this year.
• $5 million to support innovation literacy programs for the third year in a row.
• $3 million to support Ready, Set, Learn for the third year in a row.
• $5.9 million for LearnNow BC.
• $4.25 million to help support local libraries and increased library access through programs like BC OneCard and Ask Away.
• $2.7 million under the ActNow BC strategy for LEAP BC to help increase healthy living and literary skills among preschoolers.
• $4 million under the ActNow BC initiative for new playground equipment; the ministry is funding $1 million.
• $3 million in new trades equipment to help boost trades training and skill development in high school classrooms.
• $1 million for crystal methamphetamine school-based materials.
• $600,000 grant to establish a leadership training workshop for parents to better support the boards of education.
• $300,000 for an education network to connect all rural educators around the province.

Did you know?

• All 60 school districts were visited by Education Minister Bond or Premier Campbell.
• 35 Aboriginal education enhancement agreements have been signed.
• 35 new or replacement schools have been completed or are under current construction following Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) design standards.
• Over 1,300 schools have joined the Action Schools! BC program.
• All 60 school districts are registered for the Ready, Set, Learn program, for the first time ever.
• 33,000 students are registered in distributed learning courses through schools participating in LearnNow BC.
• Special funding for students with Autism is expanded to include those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and totals $16,000 per student.

Media contact:
Lara Perzoff
Public Affairs Bureau
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963
250 920-9040 (cell)