Privatization through Distributed (online) Learning in the BC K-12 Education System

Abstract Privatization through Distributed (online) Learning in the BC K-12 Education System Provincial education funding policies have promoted increasing numbers of students with special needs being registered in publicly financed, private school Distributed Learning schools in BC, rather than in face-to-face public schools.  Many of these students spend their learning time at home with just an Education Assistant, in contrast to an inclusive educational setting with other students and in a classroom with a teacher.  The research explains how the policy framework based on neo-liberal policies of choice and competition among schools has produced this ongoing shift of students with special needs to private, online schools. The increase is related to the underfunding of public schools since 2002 that led to more diverse classrooms without adequate support, a reduction in the number of specialist support teachers and understaffing and undertraining of education assistants.  Inadequate service in the public schools and ministry of education funding incentives for the private DL schools have led some parents to choose a DL program and an assigned education assistant.  This effect of policies is little understood and may be an unintended consequence.