A report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) documents the nature and extent of commercial activities in elementary and secondary schools and the degree to which public funding is being replaced or supplemented by private funding sources, including school fundraising, advertising, partnerships and sponsorships, corporate-sponsored educational materials, and user fees. Provincial/regional, language, and grade level analysis ensures this is the most comprehensive and current picture of commercial activities taking place in our public schools.
On most measures, a higher percentage of schools in British Columbia than in other province are dependent on private fundraising initiatives. Indeed, education ministry documents show that in 2004–05, BC schools generated more than $185 million from private fundraising sources, and an additional $100 million in revenue from international students’ tuition fees.
The Canadian Teachers’ Federation is designating Monday, May 29, 2006, as National Fundraising Count Day. They invite teachers and parents in schools to take a moment to inventory the many ways in which fundraising takes place in their schools. Their press release may be found at here.
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