Education Funding. A Brief to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services from the British Columbia Teachers' Federation. BCTF Education Funding Brief

British Columbia Teachers' Federation. 100-550 West 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4P2, Canada. Tel: 800-663-9163; Tel: 604-871-2283; Web site: http://www.bctf.ca

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Foreign Countries; Educational Finance; Financial Support; Funding Formulas; Teacher Recruitment; Teacher Persistence; Mentors; Private Schools; Adult Education; Public Education; Canada Natives; Special Needs Students; English Language Learners; Equal Education; Access to Education; Resource Allocation; Government Role; Budgeting; Faculty Development

British Columbia teachers are pleased to have an early opportunity to present their views on priorities for the 2020 provincial budget to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. The British Columbia Teachers' Federation (BCTF) represents 43,000 teachers and associated professionals in public schools across British Columbia. This brief is focused on recommendations that would give students the education system they deserve. British Columbia has an opportunity to make the necessary and pressing improvements to public education that have been denied for far too long and re-orient public education funding to fully reflect the needs of students and classrooms. Reversing direction is not simple for an institution as large and diverse as public education, but that is no reason to be timid; if anything, it is a reason to act boldly and for the long term. Good will on the part of everyone in the system will, allow for the establishment of a new equilibrium, where schools and students across the province have what they need to flourish and thrive. Provided in this brief is a summary of issues. Immediately following each issue are the detailed recommendations for improvement. The issues include: (1) Adequate, stable, and predictable system-wide funding; (2) Education funding formula reform to reflect system needs; (3) Investment in classroom resources and the new curriculum; (4) Supports for successful inclusion; (5) Expanded, fully funded adult education; (6) Dedicated funds for teacher recruitment, retention, and mentorship; (7) A phase-out of public funding for independent schools; and (8) A phase-out of public funding for independent schools.

As Provided

2019

ED596635