Alberta’s education system is under strain. Strengthening our publicly-funded school choice expands classroom capacity and delivers more options for students with complex needs.
Alberta’s education system is facing large class sizes, increased student complexity and resource pressures.
Independent schools expand system capacity, support diverse and specialized learners, and save taxpayers money.
Without support, thousands of students could lose their school communities, and the education system will face even greater strain.
Alberta independent schools must operate as not-for-profits, employing Alberta certified teachers teaching the Alberta curriculum.
With over 370 independent schools, 56,000 students are able to find the support they need, no matter their learning challenges, physical disabilities, specialized interests, desire for faith-based learning, high-performance sports, and more!
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Independent schools serve 56,000 students, and could serve thousands more.
Many independent schools specialize in supporting complex student needs through programs tailored to a range of disabilities, cognitive and behavioural challenges. Many of these programs wouldn’t be available without independent schools.
The province only funds each student at a rate 70% of the rate a student is funded in the public system. Between 2019 and 2024, this saved the province over 1.3 billion dollars.
Independent schools are largely driven by a community or parents recognizing an unmet need for their children in the education system. They provide different faith-based options, specialized education opportunities, and more for families.
Between 2019 and 2024, independent schools saved the province more than $1.3 billion, that’s about $300 million annually.
Up to 56,000 Alberta students could lose access to their current schools.
Thousands of students with specialized needs would face disruptions to routines and school supports they rely on to succeed.
Pressure on public classroom capacity would intensify across the province.
Schools designed to serve students with complex needs would lose critical operational support.
A parent’s choice in their child’s education would be diminished
Provincial education costs would increase, while capacity and complexity pressures remain unresolved.
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By signing, you’re adding your voice to the families, students, alumni and teachers that believe in the benefits of growing Alberta’s system of publicly-funded school choice.
