Gaming the System: Special Education Funding in Manitoba
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The provincial government currently provides funding for special needs students on the basis of three levels of classification.
The higher a student’s level, the more extra funding is provided.
Special education expenditures made up approximately 14% of total operating expenditures in the 2002-2003 school year.
These expenditures have increased by more than 300% since 1984, while total operating expenditures have increased by only 49.9%.
School divisions have an economic incentive to apply for as much special education funding as possible. In particular, a significant amount of this money can be diverted into other areas on the basis of a policy called “Flexible Base Support.”
The three different classified levels of disability fail to make a distinction between students who can function at a regular academic level if given support and those who may never be able to function at a regular level.
The government should examine whether the current method of providing funding for special education is appropriate.
Good Governance is Key with Chief David Crate
May 29, 2013 — Winnipeg
Dam-nation: Rolling the Dice on Manitoba’s Future with Graham Lane
June 5, 2013 — Winnipeg
Policy matters . . .
Upcoming FCPP Appearances
Visionary Conversations: Our Education System: The Good, the Bad, and the Solutions Speaker: Rodney Clifton, Senior Fellow for Frontier Centre for Public Policy Date: May 22, 2013 Time: 7:00 pm Place: Robert B Schultz Theatre, St. John's College, University of Manitoba, Fort Garry Campus
Community Policy Forum Speaker: Steve Lafleur, FCPP Policy Analyst Date: May 28, 2013 Time: 7:00 - 9:00 pm Place: Grant Park McNally Robinson, Winnipeg, Mb
Dennis Owens was the Frontier's Senior Policy Analyst (1997-2007). A descendant of homesteaders near Portage la Prairie, he graduated from the University of Winnipeg in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science. Over a 20-year career in the transportation business, he rose to the position of operations manager of a Winnipeg-based firm. Since then he has researched and written about Canadian public policy issues for a variety of organizations including the Manitoba Taxpayers Association and the Prairie Centre. His specialties at the Frontier Centre include municipal issues, public education, healthcare and aboriginal policy. His frequent exposure in electronic and print media has included a regular commentary on CBC radio and articles printed in the Wall Street Journal and the National Post
