School districts started preparing their 2024/25 and 2025/26 capital plans for child care using the expanded Capital Asset Planning System (CAPS) on April 8, 2024. As a reminder, submissions for 2024/25 will be accepted until May 15, 2024, and submissions for 2025/26 will align with the capital planning cycle for K–12. For more information, refer to the Capital Plan instructions.
The ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund Funding Guidelines have been available since May 2, 2024:
To help ensure fair and equitable access to capital funding, school district requests will be considered at the same time as other applications to the New Spaces Fund. The ministry will review requests, select projects and notify school districts if they have been selected to move forward. Unsuccessful applicants will also be notified.
This change makes it easier for school boards to plan and create even more child care spaces on school grounds for families in their district. It will also help the ministry consider child care projects alongside education projects.
School districts with questions about the process or capital concept development can contact their Regional Director and Planning Officer team. School districts with questions about child care operational planning and programming can contact the Child Care Development Support team at ccdevsupport@gov.bc.ca.