2003/04 – 2005/06 SERVICE PLAN Ministry of Education

Ministry Goals and Core Business Areas

Ministry Goals

The ministry has identified two goals for education:

1. Improved student achievement.
2. A high quality, performance-oriented education system.

The following tables identify the goals, core business areas, objectives, strategies and performance measures that the ministry intends to undertake during the three-year period covered by this Service Plan (2003/04 – 2005/06). Human and financial resources devoted to the ministry’s activities in the next three years are indicated in the Core Business Areas and Resource Summary sections of this plan.

The baseline figures quoted in the following tables are provincial rates and do not reflect the unique educational challenges of individual districts. Rather than setting arbitrary targets at the provincial level, the ministry has established an accountability framework to improve student achievement results at the district level. Through year-over-year improvements in the district results the provincial averages will be raised.

Evidence of the changes in system performance will be noticeable in the period covered by this plan, but efforts must be sustained over the long-term to achieve the goals.

Core Business Areas

Public Schools

The ministry provides base operating funding to school districts and others to support the K-12 public school system. School districts are held accountable to improve student achievement and report results. The ministry also provides capital funding for public schools.

Independent Schools

The ministry provides operating funding to approximately 340 independent schools as outlined in the Independent School Act. Approximately 10.5% of the K-12 population is currently enrolled in independent schools.

Debt Service and Amortization

The ministry provides funding to public schools to finance capital projects including upgrades, renovations, expansions, new facilities and buses. This area includes servicing debt and amortizing the school board assets acquired with that debt.

Management Services

Management Services provides corporate support services to operating programs including financial, human resources, information management, administrative services, freedom of information and privacy services, and general services assistance.

Executive and Support Services

The ministry provides leadership and develops policy, sets results-based standards and accountability frameworks, monitors performance and reports results. This area includes the Minister’s Office and Ministry Program Management.

Linkages of Goals and Core Business Areas