Photo Courtesy: Province of British Columbia, Flickr

By Veronica Beltran

federal funding

$242.4 million in federal funding for K-12 back to school support

Sep 3, 2020 | 1:48 PM

VICTORIA—The federal government is providing $242.4 million in one-time funding for the 2020-21 school year to support schools in their COVID-19 response.

This funding is on top of the province’s $45.6 million investment to support a safe restart for B.C. schools. The additional federal funding will help schools expand their health and safety measures, purchase more PPE and increase capacity for remote learning.

“Our province is taking the best, science-based public health advice and planning to have as many children as possible back in classrooms this fall, which is why we have been talking with the federal government about the need for more resources for our schools.”— Rob Fleming, Minister of Education

The funding will be distributed to public school districts based primarily on student enrolment, with the first half of the payment expected to be received in September.

B.C.’s Ministry of Education is initially allocating $101.1 million to school districts, $8.0 million to independent schools and reserving $12.1 million for emerging COVID-19 related issues between September and December 2020. The ministry is expected to receive up to an additional $121.2 million in January, which will be allocated out at that time.

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In August, Minister Flemming asked school districts to confirm whether or not families were planning on sending their children back to school or would need remote learning options. Over the past week school districts have reported that the majority of students are going back to in-class learning, however, some families are looking for remote options or transition programs.

The funding will support school districts to hire and train more teachers and support staff for remote learning; purchase additional software licences, electronic course materials and textbooks; purchase computers or tablets; and create Wi-Fi hubs and internet access in remote and Indigenous communities.

Photo Courtesy: Province of British Columbia, Flickr.