HALIFAX
Halifax Regional Municipality and Halifax Regional Centre for Education ratify new five-year Supplementary Education Funding Agreement

The Halifax Regional Municipality and the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) have ratified a new five-year supplementary education funding agreement that reinforces a shared commitment to student learning through enhanced programming across the municipality.

Supplementary funding is used to support fine arts and music programming for the HRCE and the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP) programs in the Halifax region. 

The municipality's continued commitment to supplementary education funding exists alongside substantial and sustained growth in provincially mandated education contributions. The Halifax Regional Municipality is the only municipality in Nova Scotia to provide supplementary education funding, in addition to mandatory education provincial contributions.

Key highlights of the agreement

• Sustained investment: The agreement prioritizes enhanced music and fine arts programming for students, which have been a longstanding part of this agreement. Funding for social work and library support will be transitioned out of this agreement over a period of five years, with full implementation by Aug. 31, 2031, and there will be a renewed focus on the original enhanced programming.
• Accountability and communication: HRCE will continue to highlight the partnership with the municipality, how supplementary funding is allocated, and the impact it has on students and school communities through a public brochure to families, and an annual report to the municipality. Going forward, HRCE will also make an annual presentation to Regional Council. 
• Commitment to equity: The agreement reaffirms the commitment to ensure programs are distributed equitably across the municipality and continue to support students from historically marginalized communities.

This agreement maintains meaningful support to supplementary educational programming, while recognizing the broader commitment to fiscal sustainability and long-term affordability for the municipality. This renewed agreement maintains deep support to enhanced fine arts and music opportunities for students beyond provincially funded core programming. 

The new agreement takes effect immediately and will guide supplementary education funding through March 31, 2031.