Province to spend more on staff at K-12 schools

Vowing to address what's expected to be another year of historic growth, Alberta Education will provide $9.3 billion to K-12 schools in Budget 2024, looking to add thousands of school-related jobs and support students with special needs.

With Alberta's population projected to continue growing at nearly four per cent for a second consecutive year, the UCP will dedicate $842 million over the next three years to support growth in schools, bringing additional enrolment-based grants to $1.2 billion and helping hire 3,100 teachers, educational assistants and other school-based staff over the next three years.

Alberta Teachers' Association president Jason Schilling said earlier this week Alberta needs at least 5,000 additional teachers to address unmanageable class sizes, which are well over 40 students in many schools.

The Calgary Board of Education welcomed an additional 7,029 new students this school year, representing a historic 5.4 per cent hike overall, as well as a 40 per cent increase in non-canadian students, with officials expecting an even higher spike next year.

The Edmonton Public School Board saw more than 5,800 new students this year, totalling close to 10,000 additions in the past two years, with officials there saying it's enough to fill 10 new elementary or middle schools.

Budget 2024 documents also confirmed population growth is expected to continue across the province at a rate of 3.7 per cent in the 2024 calendar year, just slightly down from the 4.1 per cent gain of 2023.

As students continue to struggle with pandemic learning loss, worsening academic results and mental health, Alberta Education will also invest more than $1.5-billion in additional learning resources for vulnerable students, children with special learning needs and other students requiring unique supports, including $30 million for student mental health and well-being.

Some of Alberta's youngest learners, who have seen the biggest rates of academic decline since COVID, will also receive $26 million over the next three years for Program Unit Funding or PUF programs, geared toward at-risk students before and during kindergarten.

Student transportation, which has suffered severe labour shortages and disrupted service since the pandemic, will get an investment of $492 million in 2024-25, an increase of nearly $80 million from the previous year, including more supports for bus driver training.

For new schools, expansions and modernizations, the province will invest $1.9 billion in capital funding over the next three years, including $681 million in new funding for 43 projects, creating 35,000 additional student spaces.

But there is no clarity on how much of that funding will go toward long-term planning and design or immediate construction. More details are expected in the coming days.

Last year, the province committed to 58 new projects, but only 14 received construction funding and less than a handful were in Calgary and Edmonton.

Additionally, as much as $103 million in capital funding will be invested over three years to increase modular classroom spaces to address the most urgent needs for additional student spaces across the province.

“The Alberta Advantage is back and booming, and people from across Canada and around the world are once again flocking to our incredible province,” said Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides.

“This, of course, puts added pressures on our schools, and our government is ready to help.”

Budget 2024's investment of $9.3 billion in K-12 schools is more than last year's historic high of $8.8 billion, but a lesser increase at 4.4 per cent compared to Budget 2023, which was a 5.2 per cent increase.

Meanwhile, Advanced Education will provide Alberta's post-secondaries with $2 billion in operating funds and invest in expansion projects at four institutes across the province.

The University of Calgary will receive $55 million in 2025-26 for 1,000 new student spaces in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs, Olds College will get $63 million over the next three years to renovate and expand student spaces in the WJ Elliot Building, NAIT'S trades and technology facility will get $43 million over the next three years, and Red Deer Polytechnic will get $13 million over the next three years to create a new space helping businesses conduct applied research.