Past funding for First Nations elementary and secondary education
Indigeous Services Canada (ISC), formerly Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), provides funding support for eligible students who are 4 years of age and above, ordinarily live on reserve and enrolled in and attending an eligible elementary or secondary program. The majority are First Nations students. Certain non-First Nations students are also included.
Funding to manage and deliver education programs and services is provided directly to First Nations and organizations designated by First Nations including:
- tribal councils
- First Nations education organizations
- First Nations school systems
ISC also delivers services directly to 7 federally-operated schools.
Budget 2016 included substantial investments in primary and secondary education on reserve, totaling $2.6 billion over 5 years starting in 2016 to 2017. This included funding to address immediate needs and to keep pace with cost growth over the medium term, in addition to investments in:
- language and cultural programs
- literacy and numeracy programs
- special needs education
See the yearly departmental spending on kindergarten to grade 12 First Nations education overviews: 2016 to 2017, 2017 to 2018, and 2018 to 2019 to learn more.
In addition to increasing investment in elementary and secondary education on reserve, ISC is also currently working with First Nations to transform the way kindergarten to grade 12 education is funded. ISC has been working closely with the Assembly of First Nations and a group of First Nations representatives selected by the Chiefs Committee on Education to co-develop a First Nations recommended way forward on transforming funding.
This is part of the ongoing collaboration and dialogue through the First Nations education transformation engagement.