The total 2026-27 operating grant of $7.242 billion includes funding for enrolment changes at the published per student rates. All of the rates and formulas are unchanged from the 2025-26 school year.
Changes to estimated enrolment and the impact to the total 2026-27 operating grant will be managed through a decision process in the autumn. This includes determining if actual enrolment is lower than estimated enrolment, resulting in a lower total operating grant.
The operating grant allocations will be recalculated after September 29, 2026, once enrolment is confirmed. The operating grant allocation will again be adjusted following the February and May 2027 continuing education and online learning enrolment counts. Funding will also be adjusted in February 2027 for any growth in inclusive education enrolment and for new refugee enrolment.
The Classroom Enhancement Fund continues to be provided to fund boards’ cost to implement the Memorandum of Agreement with the BC Teachers’ Federation on class size, composition and non-enrolling teachers.
As you are aware, all districts are subject to compliance audits and potential recoveries for funding claims not in compliance with ministry policies and directives. School districts should be aware that audit adjustments will be included in the calculations of the Funding Protection and the Supplement for Enrolment Decline when they are recalculated in autumn 2026, which may affect the allocations under these supplements for some boards of education.
The 2026-27 Annual Budget must be submitted to the Minister on, or before June 30, 2026. Annual Budget Instructions and templates will be posted on the School District Budget Reporting web page.
The Estimator, a tool to assist boards in determining funding projections, is being updated for 2026-27. As in previous iterations, the updated Estimator will incorporate the next three years of funding projections into one program. The Estimator will be available to districts upon request by sending an e-mail to Michael.Lebrun@gov.bc.ca.
If you have any further questions about the 2026-27 funding allocations, please email Tim Jah, Director, Funding and Allocation or Michael Lebrun.