Surrey Schools receives more than $7M from province for back-to-school affordability

The provincial government is providing $60 million in one-time funding to school districts in B.C. – including $7.385 million to Surrey Schools – to make the return to school more affordable for students and families.

Announced earlier this week (Monday), the B.C. government is using funding from the Student and Family Affordability Fund toward back-to-school costs to assist families struggling with the rising cost of living due to inflation. The funding will be provided directly to districts and has been earmarked to expand school meal programs, pay for school supplies and cover additional fees for activities such as field trips.

“Our board is very pleased with this announcement. We have continued to advocate for our most vulnerable students and their families,” said Laurie Larsen, chair of the Surrey Board of Education. “This funding will support our breakfast and lunch program as well as support families facing financial barriers for school supplies and school and extracurricular activities. Our goal is to ensure that every student is supported and able to fully participate in school.”

The district will work with schools, parents and key stakeholders to determine how to prioritize funding to best support the needs of families in Surrey and White Rock.

This $60 million builds on the government’s annual $55 million in funding for B.C. school districts through the Ministry of Education and Child Care’s CommunityLINK initiative, which funds meal programs, academic supports, counselling, youth workers and after-school programs.