Education Ministry budget increases

The Ontario budget today shows a continued increase in the summary budget lines for both the Ministry of Education's base budget and its transfers to school boards.

Finance minister Dwight Duncan referenced education a few times in the budget speech, speaking to continued (and multi-year) funding for renovations and upgrades to facilities and things like the increasing high school graduation rate. Neither were surprises, given the Good Places to Learn strategy is already into its third phase. Keep in mind the provincial budget year ends March 31, whereas school board fiscal years in Ontario end Aug. 31.
Looking at the summary ministry budget lines, you can see the ministry's budget is projected to increase by 10.6 per cent to $492.9 million. The 'school boards' net expense' line is budgeted to increase 6.6 per cent to almost $13.7 billion.
As mentioned here earlier, the ministry has scheduled a web conference with school board staff for Friday morning, with signs pointing to a public release later on during the day,