For the first time in 17 years, total expenditures for elementary and secondary education declined (-1.4%) in 2019/2020 to $78.9 billion. The majority of this spending (94.7%, or $74.7 billion) was directed to public education. Although spending declined across all major categories in public schools, the decrease was mainly attributable to lower spending on instruction and educational services in Ontario and Alberta.
In 2019/2020, direct expenditures and grants or contributions by provincial and territorial governments accounted for just over two-thirds (69.0%), or $54.3 billion of the funding for elementary and secondary education. Local taxation and other taxes levied by the school boards and local governments accounted for 19.6% of funding, while the remaining funding included student fees and tuition (3.4%), amounts from federal departments (3.4%), and all other private sources, such as revenues from ancillary operations (4.6%).
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