Transportation, Public Schools

The BC Tripartite Education Agreement: Supporting First Nation Student Success (“BCTEA”) between the Province of British Columbia (“the Ministry”), the First Nations Education Steering Committee (“FNESC”), and Indigenous Services Canada (“ISC”) sets the foundation for further growth and changes to support the enhancement of the BC public education system.

Since 2018/19, Boards of Education (“Boards”) and First Nations have been co-developing Joint Transportation Plan Worksheets (“Joint Plans”) to address transportation of First Nation Students living on reserve who attend BC public schools. The Joint Plans were to be informed by criteria established by the BCTEA Parties. The Parties are committed to building upon the improvements for First Nation Students’ transportation initiated under BCTEA in 2018. An interim approach will be implemented for the 2026/27 school year.

Transportation Planning for the 2026/27 school year

The Ministry requires boards of education to annually co-develop a Joint First Nation Student Transportation Plan (Joint Plan) with First Nations to be jointly signed off with each First Nation needing transportation for their students attending a BC public school. A Joint Plan worksheet is available to support planning discussions and document transportation services (refer to resources section below).

For the 2026/27 school year, Joint Plans do not need to be submitted to the Ministry.

Funding for Transportation of First Nation Students ordinarily living on reserve and attending BC public schools

In this transition year, the BCTEA First Nation Student Transportation funding is based on approved amounts from the 2025/26 school year for To/From school transportation.

The First Nation Student Transportation funding will be allocated from the Ministry of Education and Child Care to school districts, based on 2025/26 To/From approved amounts, as a special grant that is restricted and accounted for as a special purpose fund under section 115(a) of the School Act.

The First Nation Student Transportation funding is intended to be supplemental to already available funding including:

  • First Nation Student Rate (FNSR)
    The Student Location Factor, Supplemental Student Location Factor and Student Transportation Fund outlined in the Provincial Operating Grants Manual and Summary of Grants Tables will remain in the FNSR. This portion of the FNSR is considered a “proxy” for funding First Nation Student transportation and it is the minimum amount of the FNSR that should be applied to the transportation of First Nation Students.
  • Provincial Student Transportation Fund
    The Provincial Student Transportation Fund is available and allocated to all sixty school districts to be used for “Enhancing safety and services to all students, including service improvements that will benefit First Nation students.”
  • Provincial Operating Grants
    Boards can allocate Provincial Operating Grants to support First Nation Student transportation.

2025/26 Reporting

A simplified 2025/26 BCTEA First Nation Transportation Report template will be submitted to the Ministry to report on spending and carry-over by funding source. ​School districts must share their report to be signed by all First Nations served to confirm that they have received the report (signature does not imply agreement). ​

School Districts will submit the co-signed 2025/26 BCTEA First Nation Transportation Report to the Ministry by email at bctea@gov.bc.ca by October 1, 2026.

Note: The above reporting requirements are in addition to the Ministry’s regular financial reporting for school districts.

Resources

2025/26 Reporting

2026/27 Transportation Planning

Questions 

For more information, First Nations may contact:

  • FNESC at BCTEA@fnesc.ca for questions related to the First Nation Student Transportation Fund, including joint transportation planning and reporting, and
  • ISC at BCEducation@sac-isc.gc.ca for questions related to the Nominal Roll Report and BCTEA funding, including First Nation Student accommodation supports.

School districts may contact: