Alberta Private School Funding Faces New Scrutiny During Historic Teachers’ Strike
Alberta’s funding of private schools is under intense scrutiny as the province faces a historic teachers’ strike. As teachers rally for better pay and support, questions arise about the allocation of public funds to accredited independent schools.
New Petition and Referendum
A citizen-initiated petition seeking to halt public funding for private schools has gained momentum. Approved by Alberta’s chief electoral officer, the petition requires 177,000 signatures to trigger a referendum. This threshold was recently lowered by Premier Danielle Smith’s government, making the process more accessible.
Concerns Over Funding Practices
Critics argue that funding private education diverts essential resources from an already strained public school system. Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, stated that the province allocates several hundred million dollars to private schools—funds that could better support public education. Currently, public schools are experiencing significant class size increases amid ongoing contract negotiations with the government.
Impact of the Teachers’ Strike
Over 700,000 students have been impacted by the strike, with approximately 50,000 public, Catholic, and francophone teachers currently off the job. The dispute remains unresolved, though Schilling hopes formal negotiations will resume soon.
Funding Comparisons Across Canada
Alberta’s approach to private school funding stands out nationally. This year, the province designated $461 million from its $10.4 billion education budget for accredited private institutions. Notably, Alberta funds non-profit private school students at 70% of the rates for public school students, despite only 6% of students attending private schools.
- British Columbia provides 35% to 50% of funding for independent schools.
- Ontario does not fund private schools.
- Alberta’s education budget includes $8.6 billion for building new schools, including private ones.
Parental Choice and Financial Implications
Supporters of the private school system advocate that public funding enhances educational choice for families. John Jagersma, from the Association of Independent Schools and Colleges in Alberta, claims that many private institutions charge less than $5,000 annually. Without government funding, the viability of these schools could be jeopardized.
Concerns About Public Education Spending
Statistics suggest Alberta spends the least per student in Canada, with differing estimates ranging from $11,464 to $13,421. Despite claims that cutting funding to private schools could benefit public institutions, some experts remain skeptical about the effectiveness of such measures.
Darryl Hunter, an education policy professor, cautions against the assumption that redirecting funds will address the challenges faced by public education. The complexities of public and private school funding must be considered to understand the full impact on educational quality and accessibility.
