alberta budget 2024: province to spend more on staff at k-12 schools
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alberta is increasing overall education spending by 4.4 per cent in 2024-25.
darren makowichuk/postmedia file
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.
but education advocates are already raising concerns the bump in funding and school staff isn’t nearly enough to address the growing tide of complex students and ballooning class sizes.
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.
still, 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.
some of alberta’s largest school boards have seen unprecedented growth since schools lifted restrictions in the years after the pandemic, and thousands of families have arrived here from across canada and around the world.
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.
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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, which 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.
‘funding that doesn’t keep pace equals real cuts’: advocate
but the support our students parent advocacy group said budget 2024 does not adequately cover inflation or enrolment growth.
“to our dismay, once again, inadequate k-12 funding will continue to starve the rapidly growing public education system,” said medeana moussa, sos executive director.
“funding that doesn’t keep pace equals real cuts. under the guise of ‘fiscal restraint,’ k-12 students will be left behind without access to much-needed support and resources.”
moussa added that while the majority of alberta students attend public schools, their funding requests are denied while the government allots money for private education growth.
medeana moussa, executive director of support our students alberta.
azin ghaffari
/
postmedia
according to budget documents, up to $408 million will go to “accredited private schools and early childhood service operators,” in 2024-25, up significantly from last year’s allocation of $345 million.
schilling argued the increase to private school funding amounts to a 13.5 per cent hike from the previous year.
“last year we saw what a pre-election budget looks like. today we see what a post-election budget looks like,” schilling said.
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“does it fund enrolment growth? not fully. does it fund inflation? no. does it add extra funding to repair the damages from years of underfunding? no.
“the budget will still see our students funded the least in all of canada. and while public education will see a 4.4 per cent increase, private schools will get 13.5 per cent more next year.”
moussa added that by not keeping up with growth the province is forcing kids to make do with less, “and we see the results — ballooning class sizes, schools over capacity, fewer supports for students with special needs.”
student transportation, capital funding announced
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 to be announced friday.
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 alberta education minister demetrios nicolaides.
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“this, of course, puts added pressures on our schools, and our government is ready to help. budget 2024 will support 43 new school projects to create and update 35,000 more student spaces.
“we’re providing $842 million in new funding to help our school boards hire more than 3,000 teachers and educational staff over the next three years. we will also boost funding to vulnerable students by increasing funding to the puf program by $26 million.”
alberta education minister demetrios nicolaides.
azin ghaffari
/
postmedia, file
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.
‘disappointed’: not enough funding for post-secondaries, says caus
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.
the council of alberta university students (caus), representing more than 114,000 students across the province, said they too are disappointed with budget 2024.
“while we recognize the challenging fiscal environment and many competing priorities in this budget, we are disappointed by the lack of sufficient investments in affordability measures that could affect the well-being and success of alberta’s student population,” says chris beasley, chair of caus.
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“with alberta students experiencing the effects of a profound affordability crisis, it’s crucial we invest in the grants available to students.”
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