How Saskatchewan funds independent schools

Former students and opposition members have been calling on Saskatchewan's education minister to freeze government funding or shut down a private Christian school.

A CBC News investigation this month has brought to light allegations by more than 30 students who say they were subject to years of physical, emotional and sexual abuse by staff and leadership at the Christian Centre Academy, now called Legacy Christian Academy (LCA), and adjacent church.

The Ministry of Education announced changes to the registered independent schools regulations on Thursday, giving Minister Dustin Duncan the authority to appoint an administrator for the academy as well as two other private schools in the province. 

All of these institutions currently employ someone listed in the recent lawsuit brought by the former students of the Christian Centre Academy.

However, the ministry has not announced any changes to the funding of qualified independent schools in Saskatchewan.

Cutting funds to LCA would essentially mean the closure of the school, Duncan said on Thursday during a news conference.

"I'm not prepared to take that step to close the school," he said. "If further action is required, I will be taking further action."

Overall, there are five categories of independent schools:

Saskatchewan started funding qualified independent schools that meet provincial standards in the 2012-13 school year.

For example, these schools must be non-profit, comply with the province's curricula, allow ministry supervision and hire certified teachers, the province said in a news release in May.

In the same document, the Saskatchewan government announced $17.5 million in operating grants to 21 independent schools and four "historical" high schools for the 2022-23 school year. 

This includes a hike of $2.6 million "to support increased enrolment and the creation of a new funded independent school category," the province said in May. "Final allocations will be reviewed and adjusted once actual September 2022 enrolments are confirmed."

By comparison, the province says it has earmarked $1.99 billion in the upcoming school year for Saskatchewan's 27 school divisions.

On Thursday, Duncan said the funding boost to qualified independent schools for the upcoming school year is also tied to an increase of public school funding, since eligible private schools receive a percentage funding based on Saskatchewan's per-student average.