Invest in First Nations education to ensure that First Nations children on reserve receive a quality education.

What success looks like

Literacy and numeracy rates are improved; language and cultural knowledge is strengthened; and more First Nations children graduate from high school and go on to post-secondary education.

Government's narrative on progress

Through Budget 2016, the Government of Canada committed a $2.6 billion increase for First Nations K-12 education and an additional $1.47 billion for education infrastructure. These investments will improve primary and secondary education on reserve by building and renovating school facilities; enhancing the quality of language and cultural programs; increasing special education support; and empowering communities to establish education systems planned and led by First Nations. As part of the K-12 transformation process, we are in the process of co-developing a results framework that will help us measure improvement. Based on the policy proposal for transforming the Government of Canada’s support for First Nations elementary and secondary education that was co-developed with First Nations, a new policy framework for First Nation elementary and secondary education has been established. Beginning in 2019-2020, ISC will begin implementing a series of new formula-based regional funding models for elementary and secondary education to ensure that students attending First Nations schools are supported by predictable base funding that is more directly comparable to what students enrolled in provincial education systems receive. After signing an agreement with the Government of Canada, the Manitoba First Nations School System officially began operating in July 2017. As of September 2017, students in this school system began receiving education programs that are designed, delivered and run by First Nations with funding that is comparable to provincial school boards with enhancements that meets their specific needs. As of April 1, 2018, 23 Anishinabek Nation First Nations are self-governing in the area of education. This education self-governing agreement is the first of its kind in Ontario and the largest in Canada. The government and the Maskwacîs Education Schools Commission signed an agreement in spring 2018 to establish the Maskwacîs Cree School System, which will begin operations on July 1, 2018. The Department conducted extensive discussions with the First Nations Education Steering Committee and the province of British Columbia to renew the 2012 Tripartite Education Framework agreement, with a renewed Agreement completed and signed in 2018-2019. The government is engaged in discussions to establish similar initiatives in other regions of the country. Finally, as noted by the Parliamentary Budget Officer in November 2016, the government's investments in education will, over the next several years, help fill critical and long-standing gaps in how on-reserve schools are funded compared to those under provincial jurisdiction. These investments will ensure that First Nations children get the best possible start in life and see an improvement in educational outcomes.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.