In response to growing class sizes and increasing classroom complexity, the Alberta government has established the Class and Complexity Cabinet Committee.
Co-chaired by Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Education and Childcare Demetrios Nicolaides, the committee aims to guide government policy and allocate resources to address these pressing issues.
Premier Smith emphasized the government’s commitment to providing world-class education, stating, “We are committed to providing world-class education, and we’re building schools and funding education at a rate unprecedented in this province.
This committee will help us address the concerns of teachers, parents, and students around class sizes and complexity.”
Throughout November, the government will collaborate with school boards to collect data on class sizes and classroom composition.
This information will be used to direct resources to the classrooms that need them most. Starting in January, the data will be made publicly available and released annually.
The committee comprises several cabinet ministers and educational leaders, including
- Jason Nixon, Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services;
- Rick Wilson, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction;
- Searle Turton, Minister of Child and Family Services;
- Lynnette Anderson, Chief Superintendent of Edmonton Catholic Schools;
- Nicole Buchanan, Chair of Red Deer Public Schools;
- Marilyn Dennis, former President of the Alberta School Boards Association;
- Mike McMann, Superintendent of Fort Vermilion Schools and President of the College of Alberta School Superintendents;
- Joanne Pitman, Chief Superintendent of the Calgary Board of Education;
- Dr. Elissa Corsi from the Alberta Teachers’ Association.
Only cabinet members are voting members, but additional guests may be invited to share their expertise at the discretion of the chairs.
Minister Nicolaides highlighted the government’s proactive approach, stating, “We heard teacher concerns, and we are providing solutions.
The Class Size and Complexity Cabinet Committee will help us take immediate action and ensure teachers and students are given the support they need to succeed.”
This initiative follows the establishment of the Aggression and Complexity in Schools Action Team in June 2025, which provided recommendations on addressing classroom complexity.
The cabinet committee will implement solutions based on these recommendations and guide the creation of a new inclusive education policy framework.
The committee will also oversee the government’s commitment to hiring 3,000 new teachers and 1,500 new educational assistants over the next three years.
Additionally, it will assist in identifying and prioritizing locations for new schools and modular classrooms, supporting the government’s plan to invest $8.6 billion to build 130 new schools and provide 109 modular classrooms in rapidly growing communities.
School boards are required to submit data on Alberta classrooms by November 24.
This data collection is a crucial step in understanding and addressing the challenges faced by the province’s education system.
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