Published in: Alberta news

Alberta’s Government and Charter Schools

Author Tee Adeyemo

Published on: March 19, 2022

Alberta’s government is investing $25 million in operating funding and $47 million in capital investment over the next three years to support public charter school expansions and collegiate programs in the education system, as part of Budget 2022.

Expanding public charter schools

This funding will allow existing public charter schools to grow and ensure new public charter schools have the spaces they need to deliver educational programming for students. This funding will support planning dollars to explore a charter campus model which could support multiple public charter schools to share specialized spaces for career and technology studies, science labs or gymnasiums. This funding will also support Aurora Academic Charter School and others in their effort to expand.

Collegiate schools

In addition to the expansion of public charter schools, a collegiate model will be used to create new opportunities for more specialized and focused programming than can be offered by traditional schools. Collegiate schools bring together students with similar interests to support enriched programming and enhanced learning opportunities which may not be found to the same degree in general education streams. These schools are supported by post-secondary and industry partners to help create clearer pathways for students into post-secondary education and career options that are in high demand.

Quick facts

• Public charter schools are autonomous non-profit public schools that receive the same base instruction allocation as public, separate, and francophone school authorities.
• A public charter school is intended to focus on a particular learning style, teaching style, approach, philosophy or pedagogy that is not already offered by a school division.
• Public charter schools cannot deny access to any student if sufficient space and resources are available.
• Public charter schools can not charge tuition fees. However, they may charge fees and costs in alignment with the Education Act, like other public school authorities.
• Public charter schools serve 1.5 percent of the student population in the province, with a total enrolment of more than 10,000 students in 15 charter schools.
  • Only 1.2 percent of operational funding is allocated to support the 1.5 percent of Alberta students who chose to attend charter schools.
  • In comparison, 94.7 percent of operational funding goes to public, separate or francophone schools who serve only 92.2 percent of the total student population.
• Public charter schools were established in 1994 as part of an initiative to increase program choices available to Alberta parents and to stimulate innovation in the education system.
• Aurora Academic Charter School received ministerial approval to serve students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 in 1996. However, due to limited student space, it has only offered Kindergarten to Grade 9 programming, with plans to expand to include high school grades very soon.

The 2022 Capital Plan invests $2 billion over three years to support new school projects, continue work on previously announced projects, maintain existing schools and support charter school infrastructure, including collegiate programs.

Budget 2022 moves Alberta forward towards personal and economic prosperity by developing the talents and skills of our workforce and providing opportunities for all Albertans to succeed and thrive.

Public Charter schools in Alberta