Should Alberta Rethink Funding for Private Schools?
The debate over public funds for private schools is heating up in Alberta, and Calgarians have a direct stake in the conversation. With our city's public schools already bursting at the seams, how education dollars are allocated truly matters.
Calgary's public school system is experiencing unprecedented growth. The Calgary Board of Education reported over 142,000 students as of September 2024, a 3% jump from the previous year. Our schools are operating at or near capacity, with 34 schools implementing overflow plans. This surge is largely driven by a massive influx of newcomers, with an estimated 67,000 people moving to Calgary in 2023 alone.
Currently, Alberta stands out nationally for its approach to private education. The province provides accredited independent schools with 70% of the per-student operational funding that public schools receive – the highest rate in Canada. This translates to approximately $461 million from Alberta's K-12 budget. These funds support about 180-230 private schools across Alberta, which collectively serve around 45,000 to 50,000 students, representing just over 5% of the total K-12 population.
Should these public funds be redirected to bolster our strained public system? That's the core question. Calgarians, this impacts our community, our children, and our future. Join the discussion and learn more at abfundspublicschools.ca.
