Alberta Teachers’ Association says several school boards to see funding cuts

The ATA says the division will see a cut of $52,483.

The ATA says 13 school divisions will see funding for 2024/25, according to the school jurisdiction funding profiles from the Alberta government. (Photo: Alberta Teachers’ Association)

“There is no excuse in our growing, wealthy province to have funding cuts for public education,” says ATA president Jason Schilling.

“Year after year after year, school board funding has failed to keep up with inflation and enrolment growth and as a result, we now have the lowest per-pupil spending on education in all of Canada.”

Schilling voiced fears about potential layoffs.

He says school boards must halt any planned layoffs and the provincial government should “immediately announce additional funding for the fall”.

“The Weighted Moving Average has proven disastrous for education funding. We’ve had years of rapid enrolment growth and insufficient funding,” Schilling says.

“When adjusted for inflation, per-pupil education spending will be down 13 per cent provincewide, compared to 2019. We are now 3,000 teaching positions behind where service levels were at just five years ago,” he adds.

“As a result of underfunding, class sizes have grown, programs have been cut and supports for students continue to erode.”

The school jurisdiction profiles can be seen online.
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by Justin Goulet

Alberta Teachers’ Association says several school boards to see funding cuts

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