More funding for student enrolment | Du financement supplémentaire pour les inscriptions scolaires

Alberta’s government is investing an additional $30 million to enable school authorities to better address enrolment growth. 

This year, school authorities are experiencing higher than expected enrolment growth. To better support students, Alberta’s government is providing an additional $30 million in funding for the 2023-24 school year.

School authorities will receive $1,500 per student for actual enrolment growth between zero and 100 students and growth exceeding 100 students will be funded at $2,000 per student.

“Alberta continues to attract people from across Canada and around the world. We’ve seen many newcomers to Alberta in recent months, meaning more kids registering in our schools. We know schools are facing enrolment pressures, so we are providing school authorities with more funding to better support schools and students. This funding supplements the historic education investment made in Budget 2023.”

Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education

Funding will be allocated to school authorities in December through the supplemental enrolment growth grant. For the current school year, the supplemental enrolment growth grant has been modified so that all school authorities experiencing growth will now receive additional per student funding. In the previous school year, only school authorities with enrolment growth of more than two per cent were eligible for the grant. For the 2023-24 school year, authorities will be allocated funding based on the previous school year or the revised formula, whichever one provides more funding.

“Many of Alberta’s locally elected public, Catholic and francophone school boards continue to experience significant enrolment growth and with it, increasing complexity in a student population requiring supports for mental health, learning and early intervention, and English as an additional language. Alberta School Boards Association appreciates this additional investment from government to help school boards ensure student success.”

Marilyn Dennis, president, Alberta School Boards Association

“We are grateful that the government is responding to the historic enrolment growth and increasing complexity across CBE schools. This funding will enable us to hire additional teachers and school-based staff to support students.”

Laura Hack, board chair, Calgary Board of Education

“Our district is experiencing unprecedented growth. From September 2022 to September 2023, enrolment has increased by 4.6 per cent, and we continue to welcome new students. We are grateful for additional government funding to support the diverse needs of our growing student population.”

Shannon Cook, board chair, Calgary Catholic School District

“We strive to accurately forecast our enrolment projections, but some aspects are unpredictable. By removing the two per cent threshold and recognizing each and every student, we will receive more funding to better manage demands. Every dollar we invest in our students is an investment in Alberta’s future.”     

Sandra Palazzo, board chair, Edmonton Catholic School Division

“Edmonton Public Schools is grateful for funding to support our classrooms as we grow by 5,000 students each year. We look forward to future conversations with the provincial government on the funding formula.”

Julie Kusiek, board chair, Edmonton Public Schools

Over the next three years, Alberta’s government is providing more than $820 million to school divisions to address enrolment growth. This funding may be used to hire additional teachers and classroom support staff, so school authorities can manage class sizes and the growing number of students. A further $126 million in new funding is being provided over three years so school authorities can add supports to complex classrooms and give students the focused time and attention they need.

Quick facts

• In the 2023-24 fiscal year, a record $8.8 billion will be spent on education, which is equal to $44 million every day students are in school.
• Alberta’s government is investing $2.3 billion over the next three years for new and modernized schools.
• In Budget 2023, Alberta’s government announced support for 58 priority school projects that will provide new and improved student spaces, create jobs and support communities.
• The 2023 capital plan includes $372 million for 33 school projects to provide new and improved student spaces, create jobs and revitalize Alberta communities. This includes:
• 10 new schools
• 16 replacement schools
• seven modernizations
• These projects will create more than 9,400 new spaces and upgrade more than 15,500 student spaces.

Related news

• Supporting more students in classrooms | Appuyer un plus grand nombre d’élèves dans les classes (Mar 9, 2023)
• More funding going into Alberta classrooms | Plus de financement pour les salles de classe de l’Alberta (Mar 20, 2023)

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