Alberta’s population is booming and causing unprecedented growth in our education system, adding a historic number of new students across the province for the 2024/2025 school year. Alberta’s government recognizes and sympathizes with the challenges school authorities face with increasing enrolment, rising operational costs and inflation. That is why it is investing $215 million to help alleviate these pressures, beginning in the 2024/2025 school year.
This investment will expand operational funding for school authorities across the province and increase the number of modular classrooms in Alberta’s fastest growing communities.
“More and more people are choosing to make Alberta their home and that means our K-12 schools are home to a growing number of students. We’re providing school authorities with additional spaces and resources, so they can continue the important work they do educating young Albertans.”
Danielle Smith, Premier
Every school authority across the province will receive a share of the $125-million increase for operational funding. The amount available for each school authority will be determined based on the number of students it serves. This new funding can be used by school authorities to ensure they are equipped to support enrolment growth by hiring additional teachers and educational assistants. Additionally, this funding may be used to ensure rising operating costs do not take away from student learning.
“As cost pressures continue to increase, we want to ensure that education funding is not being redirected away from students and classrooms. The additional funding we are providing to school authorities will help protect the classroom experience for our students.”
Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education
“The ministry’s recognition of rising operational costs and need for classroom space for students is timely and is greatly appreciated. The College of Alberta School Superintendents supports this responsive funding announcement and the government’s efforts to enhance quality learning opportunities for students.”
Dr. Clint Moroziuk, president, College of Alberta School Superintendents
"Alberta School Boards Association welcomes this additional investment from the government into our education system. This funding offers significant help to school boards as they manage enrolment pressures and space challenges amidst increasing operational costs.”
Marilyn Dennis, president, Alberta School Boards Association
To meet the need for more student spaces, Alberta’s government is investing $90 million this school year to support the construction and installation of up to 100 new modular classrooms and the relocation of up to 50 modular units. These modular classrooms will provide school authorities with up to 2,500 new spaces and 1,250 optimized spaces for students in the province’s fastest-growing communities in the Calgary metropolitan region and Edmonton during the 2024-25 school year.
“By investing in new schools and modernized spaces, we are also investing in Alberta's students and communities. We want students to have access to the world-class schools they need to learn and succeed. Alberta Infrastructure is committed to working with our partners to ensure schools are delivered on time and on budget.”
Pete Guthrie, Minister of Infrastructure
“This is good news for the Calgary Board of Education and our growing student population! As we prepare to welcome another 8,000 students for the 2024-25 school year, this increased funding will go directly to CBE classrooms to support teaching and learning. Escalating enrolment means many CBE schools are reaching capacity. Receiving additional modular classrooms will help address enrolment pressures, particularly in schools that have experienced significant growth in the past few years.”
Patricia Bolger, chair, Calgary Board of Education
“This mid-budget funding announcement is welcome news in light of the increasing cost pressures and unprecedented student enrolment growth Edmonton Public Schools is experiencing. We will continue to work with the province on supporting high-quality education and learning environments that keep pace with student enrolment.”
Julie Kusiek, board chair, Edmonton Public Schools
“Edmonton Catholic Schools continues to experience exceptional growth, and we anticipate welcoming 2,800 new students in the upcoming school year. We are grateful to the government for this additional funding and look forward to continued collaboration in addressing enrolment pressures and supporting student success.”
Sandra Palazzo, board chair, Edmonton Catholic Schools
“Calgary Catholic thanks the Government of Alberta for the additional funding to help address the ongoing pressures of growing enrolment.”
Shannon Cook, chair, Board of Trustees, Calgary Catholic School District
“This much-needed boost to operational funding will help Rocky View Schools direct additional dollars to support student learning and success. We are grateful the government is responding to our urgent request for additional modular classrooms in communities where we continue to experience significant year-over-year enrolment growth. The additional classroom space will help ease pressures in overcrowded schools while we eagerly await new schools to be built.”
Fiona Gilbert, chair, Rocky View Schools
Over the next three years, Alberta’s government is providing more than $1.2 billion to school authorities to address enrolment growth. This funding will support the hiring of more than 3,100 additional teachers and classroom support staff, so school divisions can manage class sizes and the growing number of students. More than $1.5 billion is also being provided so school authorities can support specialized learning needs and address complex classrooms by giving their students the focused time, support and attention they need to succeed.
Quick facts
- A record $9.3 billion will be spent on Alberta’s education system in 2024-25, which is more than $46 million every day students are in school.
- Alberta’s government is investing $2.1 billion to advance 43 priority school projects. These projects will result in 35,000 new and modernized student spaces.
- The $90-million investment for modular classrooms to address enrolment pressures in the 2024-25 school year supplements the $50 million directed towards modular classrooms in Budget 2024. Through the $90-million investment for modular classrooms:
- Calgary Board of Education will receive up to 31 new modular classrooms and have up to 14 relocated.
- Calgary Catholic School Division will receive up to 14 new modular classrooms and have up to six relocated.
- Edmonton Public Schools will receive up to 26 new modular classrooms and have up to 11 relocated.
- Edmonton Catholic School Board will receive up to 17 new modular classrooms and have up to seven relocated.
- Rocky View Schools will receive up to 12 new modular classrooms and have up to 12 relocated.
Multimedia: Watch the news conference