Better Schools for BC–The numbers tell the story

BETTER SCHOOLS FOR BC The numbers tell the story

BC falls behind in K–12 funding as a % of GDP

3.6

Total expenditures in public elementary and secondary schools as a percentage of the GDP: BC and Canada

3.5 3.4 Canada

3.3

BC

3.2 3.1 3.0 2.9 2.8 Canada BC

2002–03 3.5 3.6

2003–04 3.4 3.3

2004–05 3.4 3.2

2005–06 3.4 3.2

2006–07 3.3 3.2

2007–08 3.3 3.1

2008–09 3.5 3.3

2009–10 3.6 3.3

Sources: Statistics Canada (2010), Summary of Public School Indicators for the Provinces and Territories, 2002/2003 to 2008/2009, p. 37, and Statistics Canada (2011), Summary of Public School Indicators for the Provinces and Territories, 2005/2006 to 2009/2010, p. 46.

2 BETTER SCHOOLS FOR BC—The numbers tell the story

BC falls further behind Canada in per-student funding* 200 0

Amount BC per-student funding* is above or below the national average (Canada), 2007–08 to 2010–11 $73

-200

-$216

-400

-$471 -600 -800 -1,000 -1,200

* operating expenditures per FTE student (in current dollars) 2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

-$988 2010–11

Source: BCTF calculations with data from Statistics Canada (2013), Summary Elementary and Secondary School Indicators for Canada, the Provinces and Territories 2006/2007 to 2010/2011, Table 21, p. 25.

BETTER SCHOOLS FOR BC—The numbers tell the story 3

Most provinces hired more teachers Percentage change in FTE educators, 2006–07 to 2010–11 (provinces only) 20.0%

14.7%

15.0%

10.0%

8.0% 5.0%

2.1%

2.2%

2.3%

MB

NL

NB

3.6%

4.3%

5.6%

0.6% 0.0%

BC -5.0%

QC

NS

SK

ON

AB

PE

-3.7%

Source: BCTF calculations with data from Statistics Canada (2013), Summary Elementary and Secondary School Indicators for Canada, the Provinces and Territories 2006/2007 to 2010/2011, Table 12.1, p. 20.

4 BETTER SCHOOLS FOR BC—The numbers tell the story

BC has the worst student-educator ratio in Canada Student-Educator Ratio (SER): BC and Canada, 2001–02 to 2010–11 18

BC

17

Bills 27 & 28

16 15

Canada

Global recession

14 13 12 11 10 BC Canada

2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 17 16.4 16.6 16.8 16.8 17.6 17.7 17.5 16.6 16.5 15.2 14.1 13.9 13.8 15.9 15.9 15.8 15.5 14.7 14.4

Sources: BCTF Research table: For 2001–02 to 2007–08 figures, see Statistics Canada (2010), Summary Public School Indicators for Canada, the Provinces and Territories, 2001/2002 to 2007/2008—Table A.14 (p. 34); for 2006–07 to 2010–11 figures, see Statistics Canada (2013), Summary Elementary and Secondary School Indicators for Canada, the Provinces and Territories, 2006/2007 to 2010/2011, Table 13, p. 21. Note: Statistics Canada revised the SER figure for 2009–10 for Canada from 14.0 to 13.9 in the 2013 report.

BETTER SCHOOLS FOR BC—The numbers tell the story 5

What if BC’s SER* was up to the national average?

If BC brought its student-educator ratio up to the national average, we would have: • 6,600 more teachers to work with students in BC classrooms • $568 million more in the education budget • on average, four more teachers per school.

*The student-educator ratio includes teachers, administrators and pedagogical support.

6 BETTER SCHOOLS FOR BC—The numbers tell the story

Loss of specialist teachers since 2001–02

FTE specialist teachers (FTE figures are rounded)

2001–02

2011–12

Change since 2001–02

Library Services

922

636

-286

Counselling

990

870

-120

Special Education

4,052

3,282

-770

English Language Learning

1,016

674

-342

207

196

-11

Aboriginal Education

Sources: BCTF Research table, with figures from BC Ministry of Education (2002, 2012), Staff by Year and Program Code (unpublished Form 1530 data).

BETTER SCHOOLS FOR BC—The numbers tell the story 7

Increase in classes with four or more students with special needs Number of classes with four or more students entitled to an Individual Education Plan (IEP) 13,000

12,651

12,500

12,240 11,959

12,000 11,500 10,985

11,000 10,500

10,313

10,000 9,500

9,559

9,000 8,500 8,000

2006–07 2007–08

2008–09

2009–10

2010–11

Source: Figures from BC Ministry of Education (various years). Overview of Class Size and Composition in BC Schools.

8 BETTER SCHOOLS FOR BC—The numbers tell the story

2011–12

BC is last on seven key measures Percentage change in funding for elementary and secondary schools between 2006–07 and 2010–11 Type of funding Operating expenditures (in current dollars)

Operating expenditures per student (in current dollars)

Total expenditures (in current dollars)

Total expenditures per student (in current dollars)

Total expenditures per student (in 2002 constant dollars)

Total expenditures per capita (in current dollars)

Total expenditures per capita (in 2002 constant dollars)

Rank among provinces

Rank among provinces and territories

Percent increase in funding (out of 10)

Percent increase in funding (out of 13)

10th

12th

10th

13th

10th

12th

10th

12th

10th

12th

10th

12th

10th

12th

Source: BCTF Research table with information from Statistics Canada (2013), Summary Elementary and Secondary School Indicators for Canada, the Provinces and Territories, 2006/2007 to 2010/2011, charts 16.2, 21.2, 18.2, 19.1.2, 19.2.2 (and Table 19.2), 25.1.2, and 25.2.2 (and Table 25.2).

BETTER SCHOOLS FOR BC—The numbers tell the story 9

How to create Better Schools for BC

Here’s our plan for quality public education: • Class-size and composition guarantees • Specialist teachers in every school • Increased investment in public education 10 BETTER SCHOOLS FOR BC—The numbers tell the story

• A child poverty reduction plan • Authentic student assessment • Respect for diversity and equal opportunities for all • Full collective bargaining rights BETTER SCHOOLS FOR BC—The numbers tell the story 11

To learn more, talk to your children’s teachers and visit:

BC TEACHERS’ FEDERATION 100-550 West 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4P2 604-871-2283 or 1-800-663-9163 | bctf.ca CCD13-0037