[Vancouver, BC – February 17, 2026] – The British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA), representing the democratically and locally elected boards of education in British Columbia and over 550,000 students province-wide, welcomes Budget 2026 and is relieved to see the provincial government’s commitment to safeguarding K-12 education as a critical core service.
As British Columbia navigates a period of economic uncertainty, the BCSTA is comforted to see education protected amid broader budget pressures, and we appreciate the government’s commitment to maintaining and increasing education funding during a challenging fiscal period. We acknowledge that these decisions require careful consideration and difficult trade-offs, and we are grateful for the priority placed on public education. It is a meaningful signal to students, families, educators, and communities across this province that public education matters.
The BCSTA is pleased to highlight the following K-12 education investments included in Budget 2026:
- $634 million in new funding for K-12 education over three years, supporting teachers, student services, and inclusive learning at a time when the number of students with diverse needs continues to grow. This includes a $167 million investment in the Classroom Enhancement Fund, which will mean more teachers in classrooms, more dedicated support for learners with disabilities and diverse abilities, and more teacher psychologists and counsellors supporting student mental health and wellbeing.
- $3.9 billion in capital funding for seismic replacements and upgrades, as well as school construction and additions to address enrolment growth in B.C.’s fastest-growing communities, including 66 major K-12 school additions and improvements in communities such as Mission, Prince Rupert, and Langley.
- $25 million to expand child care on school grounds, recognizing schools as community hubs. This includes $5 million in initial capital funding through the Ministry of Infrastructure and $20 million in operating funding over three years through the Ministry of Education and Child Care, an investment that will benefit students, families, and the broader school community.
- $475 million to support children and youth with disabilities, including the new BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit, which will provide direct funding for approximately 12,000 families of children with significant disabilities, and the new BC Children and Youth Disability Supplement offering up to $6,000 per year for low- and middle-income families. This also includes a 40% expansion in community-based services, including behavioural and mental health supports.
- $330 million to ChildCareBC to stabilize child care programs and services that families depend on, preserving lower fees and existing spaces as government works to modernize B.C.’s child care system.
- $131 million for mental health and addictions, investments that will strengthen the broader supports that students and school communities increasingly need.
Boards of Education: Managing with Finite Resources
While the BCSTA welcomes these investments, we also want to be transparent with British Columbians about the ongoing fiscal realities facing boards of education. The new funding for inclusive learning students is an important step, these dollars support learners with diverse needs above and beyond what boards already invest from their own allocated budgets. However, boards of education continue to manage finite resources under ever-increasing, non-funded financial pressures. For years, boards across this province have worked diligently to stretch every dollar in service of their students and communities. Critical priorities, including addressing staffing shortages in rural and remote areas and the proper maintenance of aging school buildings remain insufficiently funded, and BCSTA will continue to advocate strongly on these fronts.
“Elected school trustees and boards of education work every day on behalf of the students, families, and communities they serve,” said Tracy Loffler, President of the BCSTA. “Budget 2026 affirms that the provincial government shares our belief that public education is foundational to a strong, healthy, and prosperous British Columbia.
We are pleased to see targeted investments that will make a difference in classrooms and communities. However, boards of education continue to face pressing challenges that remain unaddressed in this budget, including critical staffing shortages in rural and remote communities, recruitment and retention of educators, delayed capital projects, growing need for capital investments and the ongoing maintenance needs of aging school infrastructure. Without adequate funding for these priorities, boards will continue to be faced with making difficult decisions to stretch finite resources to best serve their students and communities.”
Looking Ahead
Stable, predictable funding in uncertain times allows boards of education to remain focused on what matters most: student success. Today’s students are tomorrow’s parents, workers, and community leaders. When we invest in public education, we invest in the future of British Columbia.
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About BCSTA
The British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA) represents and supports the boards of education that govern British Columbia’s public schools, serving over 550,000 students. BCSTA supports over 400 trustees through professional development, legal counsel, and communications, while acting as the strong, unified voice for boards in advocating to government, education partners, and the public on matters affecting public education.
Media Contact:
Monique Atwal
Manager of Advocacy and Public Relations
Email: matwal@bcsta.org
Phone: 604-842-1167