Appendix A: New TEFA Questions
p.1
Appendix A: New TEFA Questions
Updated August 17, 2012
Q.1
How do First Nation schools get reimbursed for status on-reserve students who
attend the school but come from a different First Nation? Does the school bill the other First
Nation?
A.1
Under TEFA, funding for all students attending a First Nations school is provided to the
First Nation that operates the school, regardless of which reserve the students come from. The
First Nation the students come from will still receive student support funding for those students,
but the First Nation that operates the school will receive the tuition for the students.
For example, student A from Squamish First Nation is attending a Musqueam school.
Squamish Nation would continue to report student A on its nominal roll, as Squamish Nation
would receive student support funding for the student. However, Musqueam would receive the
tuition funding for student A, as Musqueam operates the school.
Q.2 How is funding administered for students who live on-reserve but attend a public
school? How is funding administered for students who attend an independent school?
A.2
For public schools, if a Local Education Agreement (LEA) is in place, AANDC will fund
the First Nation and the First Nation will pay the School District based on the terms of the LEA. If
no LEA is in place, AANDC will fund the province directly for on-reserve First Nation students.
For private/independent schools, AANDC will fund the First Nation. However, if the recipient has
more than 10 students attending one private school, an LEA must be in place before AANDC will
release payment to the First Nation for those students.
Q.3
What is the change to Band Employee Benefits (BEB) under TEFA?
A.3
The TEFA funding model will provide funding to First Nations schools that is based on
the provincial Operating Grants Manual, with specific adaptations, reflecting all of the funding
required to meet core operational costs for education services provided by schools. The TEFA
model integrates funding that was previously allocated as individual transactions by AANDC, such
as School Operations and Maintenance, Enhanced Teacher Salaries, Education Minor Capital,
New Paths for Education, and Band Employee Benefits (BEB). In other words, funding for these
items has been absorbed into the overall formula and is not provided separately. It is hoped that
this change will increase flexibility for First Nations.
The BEB program provides to eligible First Nations employers funding to cover the cost of the
employer's share of contributions to pension plans for eligible employees.
Appendix A: New TEFA Questions
p.2
Below is the funding methodology for BEB in the fiscal year 2012/13 only.
April to August
Recipient funded for eligible band and school employees
September to March
Recipient funded for eligible band employees only
Funding for benefits for eligible school employees is integrated into the
TEFA funding allocation
For the next fiscal year, the First Nation recipient should include only band employees on its List
of Eligible Employees application.
Note: This item has been identified as an outstanding TEFA finance issue for further discussion.
Q.4 Based on the TEFA funding amendment from AANDC for the September education
transfer, why are First Nations not getting the full 70%? The amendment shows 40% for
August, with the remainder in pool.
A.4
The process for calculating tuition has not changed. The cash flow process will continue as
in previous years, as follows.



April - June (30%) funding released in April;
September -December (40%) funding released in August; and
January – March (30%) in pool.
The September – March portion is an estimate based on the prior year’s nominal roll, and the
parameters put 30% of the estimate in pool until the 2012 nominal roll is submitted and reviewed.
The 30% will be released once the nominal roll is adjusted in February 2013.
Q.5 How do First Nations that have signed self-government/treaty agreements receive
information about their education funding based on TEFA?
A.5
AANDC did not communicate specific information to those First Nations that are in a selfgovernment /treaty agreement. Self-government / treaty First Nations are outside of TEFA. First
Nations with self-government / treaty agreements that have questions regarding their education
allocations are asked to contact Kevin Malone of the Treaty and Aboriginal Government unit at
604-775-5503.
Q.6
Will there be information sessions for First Nations regarding TEFA implementation?
A.6
Seven TEFA information sessions were held in January and February 2012. AANDC and
FNESC also will be working together to provide TEFA support at the upcoming FNESC Regional
Sessions. Specific communications/bulletins will be distributed in the fall of 2012 to provide
Appendix A: New TEFA Questions
p.3
additional information, and AANDC will be informing Funding Service Officers so that they are
prepared to answer TEFA questions.
Who can I contact at AANDC?
 Call 1-800-665-9320 or email [email protected] to contact Tanya Duncan, Manager of
Education, or a Funding Service Officer
Who can I contact at FNESC?
 Call 1-877-422-3672 or email [email protected] to contact Jan Haugen
You can also find TEFA information online at www.fnsa.ca/tefa
Q.7 Will New Paths for Education school and community grants continue according to the
prior allocation process?
A.7
New Paths for Education funding is now included within education funding allocations,
and it can be used for any of the activities formerly funded under New Paths, such as IT supports.
There will no longer be separate New Paths allocation grants administered through FNESC and the
FNSA.
Q.8 The next three questions relate to the following sample.
A) Based on the example, how is the Ancillary Services amount of $68,460 calculated when it
is $420 per student and there are 72 students listed as on-reserve ($420 x 72 students =
$30,240)?
A.8.A. Ancillary Services funding is provided for eligible students attending provincial and
independent schools in BC. In this example, the First Nation has reported 163 students attending
provincial/private schools (163 students X $420 = $68,460).
For 2012/13 only, the allocations are based on a combination of two rates: $220 for the
current methodology and $420 for the new methodology. The combined rate for the 2012/13
school year is $332. The allocations are based on the rate per student per year listed on the
September 2011 Nominal Roll in provincial/private schools.
Appendix A: New TEFA Questions
p.4
B) What are CISS, G & C, and Student Allowance?
A.8.B. CISS is Comprehensive Instructional Support Services - All First Nations
administering authorities receive funding for their students attending First Nations, public and
independent schools to be used towards school supplies, accommodation, transportation, and
financial assistance.
G & C is Guidance and Counseling - Funding is provided to assist with the provision of K-12
Guidance and Counseling administration services for all students on the nominal roll.
Student Allowance is also known as Financial Assistance Allowance. It is intended to provide
allowances to eligible nominal roll students in grades 8 to 12.
C) Based on the example, will the recipient receive the entire $111,873 in addition to the
TEFA Allocation?
A.8.C. Yes. The First Nation will receive Student Support Services: Ancillary, CISS, G&C and
student allowances in addition to the TEFA allocation. These services are for all students reported
on the nominal roll.