Budget 2006 builds on classroom innovation and student success for the future
Budget 2006 Highlights:
- $5.3 billion for overall spending on Kindergarten to Grade 12 education (or $26.5 million per school day) - a 6.7 per cent increase
- $395 million for Plant Operations and Maintenance support to school boards - a 5.1 per cent increase
- $126.3 million to continue the Class Size Reduction Initiative - a 15.1 per cent increase
- $71 million for a new cycle of innovative local school projects (Alberta Initiative for School Improvement) – a 2 per cent increase
- $41.7 million for the Student Health Initiative – a 6 per cent increase
- 3.2 per cent increase, on average, in funding for school boards
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Edmonton... Support for the Kindergarten to Grade 12 education system will grow to $5.3 billion for 2006-2007, an increase of $330 million or 6.7 per cent over the 2005-06 forecast. This includes $169 million in property tax support to opted-out school boards, and $734 million for school infrastructure-related purposes. On average, school boards can expect to see an increase of 3.2 per cent in their funding levels for the 2006-2007 school year, assuming no change in enrolment.
“Alberta’s students and teachers benefit from one of the best education systems in the world,” said Education Minister Gene Zwozdesky. “We are supporting educational choice and a diversity of learning environments, from traditional classrooms through to alternative educational approaches that help our students to succeed and to prepare for a future of unlimited possibilities.”
Classroom supports
Support to classroom learning in Budget 2006 includes:
- $71 million for the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement for local, innovative programs and projects, including professional learning communities in schools and early literacy, math skills, and stay-in-school programs that support student learning
- A six per cent increase to Alberta’s 15 Student Health Initiative Partnerships, growing from $39.3 million to $41.7 million in 2006-2007. The partnerships provide integrated health, therapy, and emotional and behavioural supports for identified children with special health needs
- A 9.7 per cent increase in funding provided to school boards for students with special needs to $373 million. Since 2000-2001, funding to school boards for ECS to Grade 12 students with special needs has increased $203 million or 120 per cent
School facilities
Infrastructure and Maintenance Renewal grants to school boards for school building upgrades will increase 68 per cent from $48 million to $81 million for 2006-2007. The money can also be used to improve school energy efficiency to reduce cost pressures associated with older school buildings in school jurisdictions.
Plant operations and maintenance support to school boards will increase by $19 million or 5.1 per cent to $395 million. This extends the $43 million enhancement announced in August 2005 as part of a new per-student funding formula.
For the 2006-2007 school year, 21 school capital projects will be completed and 109 modular classrooms constructed and completed, providing more than 10,000 new student spaces. At the same time, work will begin or continue on 51 previously announced school projects. This represents a total investment of more than $339 million.
Reducing class size
Funding support for the Class Size Initiative increases by 15.1 per cent from $110 million to $126.3 million in 2006-2007. School boards will receive funding to retain the 1,685 new teachers hired in the last two years, and to hire additional teachers beginning this September to help those areas experiencing the greatest difficulty in meeting class size guidelines, particularly the Kindergarten to Grade 3 level.
School boards will be given more flexibility and time to plan for and reach the average class size guidelines that Alberta’s Commission on Learning recommended be phased in over five years. School boards have encountered challenges with availability of classroom space and recruitment of new teachers in trying to meet a three-year condensed implementation schedule.
Operating grants
Allocations to schools will increase by $194 million to $3.9 billion through a renewed funding framework that gives school boards flexibility to respond to local needs. The base per student instruction grant rate increases by three per cent from $5,087 to $5,240. Student transportation funding will increase from $220 to $232 million, including up to $15.5 million that will continue to address higher school bus fuel prices, as announced in September 2005.
Since 1996-1997, operating support for Alberta school jurisdictions has increased by almost $2.3 billion, or 84 per cent. Over the same time frame, school enrolments have increased by 4.3 per cent to 590,000 students province-wide. Presently Kindergarten to Grade 12 enrolment numbers are declining, on average, province-wide; however, a few areas are experiencing enrolment increases.
Government support for the Alberta Teachers’ Pension Plan will increase by $20 million in 2006-2007 to $339 million annually. This plan covers 36,015 active teachers working in school divisions across Alberta, earning an average salary of $72,865 plus benefits of $5,950. Government contributions to the Teachers’ Pension Plan were more than $10,800 per teacher based on average salary.
Total Government Support to
Basic Education since 1996/97 |
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Funding Increases Compared to
Teachers' Salaries, Enrolment and Inflation |
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Budget Breakdown |
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Budget 2006 Government of Alberta information
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