Staffing projections show up to 1,600 more teachers and support staff will be hired in the upcoming school year. Alberta’s government is also providing school authorities additional funding to support higher salaries for teachers, address enrollment growth and support francophone education.

More staff in schools

School authorities are projecting up to 800 more teachers and principals will be hired in the upcoming school year. This represents an increase of 2.2 per cent from the certificated staff in the 2021/22 school year and means more teachers in the classroom supporting Alberta’s students.

Additionally, an increase of approximately 800 support staff is also expected. This includes classroom-based educational and teacher assistants and represents an increase of 3.1 per cent from the previous school year.

“I’m thrilled to see more teachers and educational assistants will be hired in the coming school year. Alberta’s school board reserve policy has played an important role in directing today’s education dollars towards today’s students.”

Adriana LaGrange, Education Minister

Funding to support higher salaries for teachers

Alberta’s government is also providing up to an additional $50 million in 2022/23 to cover recently ratified bargaining agreements with teachers. By funding these agreements, Alberta’s government is further ensuring stability for school authorities.

“ASBA appreciates that the government will provide funding for the recently ratified teacher bargaining agreements in addition to providing targeted supports for enrolment growth as school boards face rapidly increasing student populations. This funding will help offset pressures and enable boards to address operational needs while they continue to make informed decisions in support of students and their local school communities across Alberta.”

Marilyn Dennis, president, Alberta School Boards Association

“ASBOA welcomes the commitment to fund teacher collective agreements, and the additional funding to support enrolment growth and francophone education in Alberta. This announcement provides greater funding certainty for publicly funded education as we are about to start a new school year.”

François Gagnon, president, Association of School Business Officials of Alberta

Additional funding for enrolment growth

More than $7 million in additional funding will be provided to school authorities through a new enrolment growth grant. Early childhood services (ECS) operators will also receive support if they see significant enrolment increases.

The funding available through this new supplemental enrolment growth grant provides for additional student funding for authority enrolment growth above a set threshold, with higher rates for more growth.

“While the CASS Board of Directors recognizes that the current funding formula softens the impact of enrollment decline, we are pleased to see that this announcement will allow divisions to better meet their needs when addressing significant enrollment growth.”

Scott Morrison, president, College of Alberta School Superintendents

“The Association of Independent Schools & Colleges in Alberta appreciates the additional funding that is being allocated to school authorities that are seeing significant growth. The Supplemental Enrollment Grant will allow schools to better meet the needs of a growing student population, and ensure their students receive an educational experience that prepares them for future success.”

Abraham Abougouche, president, Association of Independent Schools and Colleges of Alberta 

Redesigned grant for francophone school authorities

About $5 million in additional funding will be provided to francophone school boards through an updated francophone equivalency grant. This increased investment means that in the 2022/23 school year, Alberta Education will allocate $7 million to francophone school authorities to support francophone education in Alberta.

“The Fédération des conseils scolaires francophones de l’Alberta welcomes the announcement of an adjustment to school funding to better meet the needs of francophone students in the province. We appreciate the collaborative work that has taken place over the past few months to make the challenges faced by francophone school boards heard. Their reality is unique and the response to their challenges must, by that very fact, be unique.”

Tanya Saumure, president, la Fédération des conseils scolaires francophones de l’Alberta (FCSFA)

Quick facts

• Increased staffing levels will be supported by the use of operating reserves in the 2022/23 school year.
  • The Minister of Education recently approved 64 requests to use operating reserves for the 2022/23 school year. This included $88 million in requests for reserves to be spent on staffing, instruction and educational assistants.
• By the end of the 2022/23 school year, maximum operating reserve amounts will be set for school boards, as described in the Funding Manual for School Authorities to ensure public dollars go to educational purposes in the same year the funding is provided.
• The limit on allowable reserve balances was signaled to school jurisdictions with the new funding model in 2020.
• School authorities will also receive additional funding from the province to support higher than expected fuel costs, while monthly average diesel prices exceed $1.25 per litre.

Keith Hopper, Trending 55