Budget 2012
Budget 2012 provides sustainable and predictable funding over the next three years, so that students, parents, teachers, support staff and school boards can keep their focus on the classroom results that matter most.
Under Budget 2012, support to the education system reaches nearly $6.8 billion and will grow to about $7.1 billion over the next three years.
In 2012, the Education operating budget increases by $216 million or 3.5% (excluding capital, which includes money for new schools and major renovations).
That means that Alberta Education will spend $34 million every day that students are in school. This funding commitment reflects the importance government places on education and supporting student learning.
Highlights of the budget include:
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Budget 2012 provides three years of sustainable and predictable funding.
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1% grant rate increase for base instruction and class size grants, 2% increase to most other grants.
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Projected general student enrolment growth of 8,300 new students or 1.5%.
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Funding for students with special needs increases by $68 million or 22% as we transition to a new Inclusive Education funding model. This increase brings total support for Inclusive Education to $375 million.
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Small Class Size funding increases by $5.7 million or 2.5%.
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Continuation of the Government’s $107 million additional funding provided in the fall of 2011, allocated through a new Equity of Opportunity grant.
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Transportation funding increases by $14 million or 5.1%.
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Early Childhood Services support increases by $24 million or 9%.
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English as a Second Language / Francisation support increases by $8.5 million or 11%.
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SuperNet Services funding increases by $5.5 million or 46%.
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Private school funding increases by $7.8 million or 4.2%, receiving the same grant increases as the public system.
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Contributions to Teachers’ Pension Plan increase by $27 million or 9%.
Did You Know?
Important Facts and Answers to Common Budget Questions
Did you know?
Funding to Alberta’s education system has increased by $2.6 Billion, or 62%, over the last 10 years.
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$34 million is invested in Alberta’s education system every school day.
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Alberta’s investment in students ensures they continue to be among the top-performing in the world.
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Alberta’s grade 8 students achieved the highest marks in the country in science, second highest in reading and third highest in mathematics according to the latest national test results (Pan-Canadian Assessment Program, 2010.)
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In 2009, Alberta students placed second in the world in reading and scientific literacy, and eighth in mathematical literacy (Programme for International Student Assessment, 2009.)
Did you know?
Alberta is planning for the future by funding student population increases. Here’s a chart that shows Alberta’s student population growth over the last decade:
Did you know?
Alberta students benefit from a high quality education workforce.
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The average Alberta teacher with 10 years experience makes over $92,000 per year, the highest among all Canadian provinces.
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Over the last decade, the average salary of teachers with at least 10 years experience has increased by 41%, from $65,203 in 2001/02 to $92,201 in 2011/12.
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Teachers in Alberta have a great pension and benefits plan. In fact, in 2012/2013 alone, operating support to school boards will include $327 million for current service payments for teachers’ pensions, with a further $447 million budgeted in the Ministry of Finance to provide for the costs of the pre-1992 teachers’ pension liability.
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Since 2004/2005, an average of 2367 new teachers have been hired every year, with 2264 new hires in 2011/2012 and an estimated 2383 new teachers to be hired in 2012/2013.
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Over the last decade the number of teachers in Alberta has increased by 13%.
Did you know?
Approximately 93% of the Education budget goes directly to School Authorities. Here is a breakdown of how the Education budget is distributed:
Did you know?
School boards can also have savings for a rainy day. Here are some facts about the financial health of school boards in Alberta:
- Alberta’s 79 school boards are given considerable latitude in how they spend their funds, which allows them to consider the needs of their community when making spending decisions.
Budget 2012 – Get the Full Picture
Funding supports under Budget 2012 include:
Sustainable and Predictable Funding for School Jurisdictions
Budget 2012 honours the Government of Alberta’s mandate to establish minimum 3-year funding cycles for education, ensuring school boards can make longer term plans for educational programming. It supports the following grant rate increases and projected student enrolment growth over the next three school years.
Grant Rate Increases
ECS to Grade 9 Funding Rates - per student
High School Funding Rates for the 2012/13 school year - per Credit Enrolment Unit (CEU)
NEW - Inclusive Education - $68 million increase
In a 21st century learning environment, we must value all children and youth to the same degree. An inclusive education system demonstrates decision-making that does this. Every student matters and every learner offers contributions to the learning environment. All of our kids must feel welcomed, that they belong and receive a quality educational experience.
Budget 2012 offers the first step to implement a new funding model that supports inclusive practice in schools across Alberta. $68 million in additional funding to support inclusive practice will ensure school boards have the flexibility to support the unique needs of every learner.
Additional funding will be used to provide the supports and services that parents and teachers identified as offering the most benefit to all students including instructional supports and assistive technology. School boards will continue to have flexibility to apply the funding in a way that best meets their local needs including enhancing the availability of additional supports including speech language, physical and occupational therapies.
This increase brings total support for Inclusive Education to $375 million.
Small Class Size Initiative
Budget 2012 recognizes that smaller class sizes can have an impact on students, especially in Kindergarten to Grade 3, where studies show small class sizes make the most difference. Since 2004, more than $1.6 billion has been invested in the Small Class Size Initiative.
In Budget 2012, class size funding increases from $226.3 million to $232 million or 2.5%. This funding accommodates a 1% increase in grant rates as well as an expected 4% increase in Kindergarten to Grade 3 students. School Boards will be required to post their class size survey results by January 15 of each year to ensure these funds are being effectively used to reduce class sizes.
NEW – Equity of Opportunity Grant
This grant continues the $107 million additional funding that was provided in the fall of 2011. Funding will be provided through three components that address the need for equitable access to education programs for all students.
The grant is allocated in three parts:
Student transportation is an integral part of the education system. The government commitment to the safe and efficient transportation of nearly 300,000 K-12 students across Alberta will benefit from $289 million investment, an increase of $14 million or 5.1%.
This includes a continuation of two transportation trials, the Rural Ride Time Reduction Project and the School Bus Wi-Fi Initiative. Transportation funding will also promote cooperative student transportation service, support special transportation services, enhance interschool transportation and adjust rural transportation density grid rates.
The Fuel Price Contingency Program, which helps school boards deal with fluctuating diesel fuel prices, will also continue. Boards receive additional funding whenever diesel fuel prices are above 60 cents/litre. Based on fuel prices of $1.20/litre, funding is expected to reach $22 million for the 2012/2013 school year.
Early Childhood Services Support
In order to accommodate the unique needs of early childhood education, support for children entering the education system through pre-school programs increases from $281.9 million to $306.3 million – an increase of $24.4 million or 9%. This will serve to improve early childhood learning services as well as accommodate an additional 2,960 new children, a 5.5% increase, entering the education system in September 2012.
English as a Second Language / Francisation Support
The number of students who require English as a Second Language and Francisation support in Alberta is increasing. In order for these students to have the best opportunities to succeed, support for this initiative will increase to $83.9 million – an increase of $8.5 million or 11%. This will support an expected increase of 7,560 new students requiring these programs in September 2012.
SuperNet Services
The Government of Alberta recognizes that all Alberta students deserve access to the best learning resources possible, which includes access to the internet. Therefore, Budget 2012 provides SuperNet Services with a 46% funding increase. This increase, from $12 million to $17.5 million, will sustain the Government’s commitment to provide internet connection bandwidth up to 20 megabytes to Alberta schools.
Private Schools and Private Early Childhood Services Operators
Alberta private schools will receive the same grant rate increases as public boards, resulting in a funding increase of $7.8 million or 4.2%.
Teachers’ Pension Plan
Government’s contribution to the Alberta Teachers’ Pension Plan increases by 9% or $27 million in 2012/2013 from $300 million to $327 million. Additional funding of $447 million is provided by Alberta Finance and Enterprise on behalf of teachers for service earned prior to 1992.
Infrastructure Funding
The province has budgeted $96 million for Infrastructure Maintenance & Renewal (IMR) for 2012/13. Since 2006, government has provided approximately $600 million under the Infrastructure and Maintenance Renewal grant to school boards to support maintenance needs.
The IMR program funds school renovation and/or upgrade projects valued up to $1 million: More information of IMR funding can be found in the Schools Capital Manual:
http://www.education.alberta.ca/department/ipr/capitalplanning/infrastructureresources.aspx
To view the current list of 76 new school and modernization projects, visit:
http://www.education.alberta.ca/department/ipr/capitalplanning/capital-projects.aspx
Education Business Plan
School Jurisdiction and Charter School Information Sheets
School jurisdiction and charter school information sheets reflect important information that school jurisdictions and charter schools are required to report to Alberta Education. The information sheets can help you find out more about the school jurisdiction or charter school in your community.
School Jurisdiction Funding Allocations
This link will take you to a breakdown of the funding for each school jurisdiction in Alberta. There you can find out the projected amount your school jurisdiction could receive in Budget 2012.
Budget 2012 honours the Government of Alberta’s mandate to establish minimum 3-year funding cycles for education, ensuring school boards can make longer term plans for educational programming. It supports the following grant rate increases and projected student enrolment growth over the next three school years.
Grant Rate Increases
| 2012/2013 | 2013/2014 | 2013/2014 | |
| Base Instruction / Class Size | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| All Other Grant Areas | 2% | 2% | 2% |
ECS to Grade 9 Funding Rates - per student
| Grades | Base Funding | Class Size Funding | Basic Student Funding |
| ECS | $3,280.84 | $716.95 | $3,997.79 |
| Grades 1-3 | $6,561.68 | $1,433.91 | $7,995.59 |
| Grades 4-6 | $6,561.68 | $ - | $6,561.68 |
| Grades 7-9 | $6,561.68 | $ - | $6,561.68 |
High School Funding Rates for the 2012/13 school year - per Credit Enrolment Unit (CEU)
| Base CEU Rate | Class Size CEU Rate Rate | Tiered CEU Rate | |
| Tier 1 | $187.48 | $ - | $187.48 |
| Tier 2 | $187.48 | $12.09 | $199.57 |
| Tier 3 | $187.48 | $34.09 | $221.57 |
NEW - Inclusive Education - $68 million increase
In a 21st century learning environment, we must value all children and youth to the same degree. An inclusive education system demonstrates decision-making that does this. Every student matters and every learner offers contributions to the learning environment. All of our kids must feel welcomed, that they belong and receive a quality educational experience.
Budget 2012 offers the first step to implement a new funding model that supports inclusive practice in schools across Alberta. $68 million in additional funding to support inclusive practice will ensure school boards have the flexibility to support the unique needs of every learner.
Additional funding will be used to provide the supports and services that parents and teachers identified as offering the most benefit to all students including instructional supports and assistive technology. School boards will continue to have flexibility to apply the funding in a way that best meets their local needs including enhancing the availability of additional supports including speech language, physical and occupational therapies.
This increase brings total support for Inclusive Education to $375 million.
Small Class Size Initiative
Budget 2012 recognizes that smaller class sizes can have an impact on students, especially in Kindergarten to Grade 3, where studies show small class sizes make the most difference. Since 2004, more than $1.6 billion has been invested in the Small Class Size Initiative.
In Budget 2012, class size funding increases from $226.3 million to $232 million or 2.5%. This funding accommodates a 1% increase in grant rates as well as an expected 4% increase in Kindergarten to Grade 3 students. School Boards will be required to post their class size survey results by January 15 of each year to ensure these funds are being effectively used to reduce class sizes.
NEW – Equity of Opportunity Grant
This grant continues the $107 million additional funding that was provided in the fall of 2011. Funding will be provided through three components that address the need for equitable access to education programs for all students.
The grant is allocated in three parts:
- $87 Million – Per Student Funding: Funding will be provided on a per student basis to all school authorities to ensure all students can benefit from this grant.
- $8 Million – Distance Funding: Recognizes the costs of providing services for students who attend schools that are located far distances from service centres.
- $12 Million – Low Student Density Funding: Recognizes the costs of providing services for students who live in low populated remote rural communities.
Student transportation is an integral part of the education system. The government commitment to the safe and efficient transportation of nearly 300,000 K-12 students across Alberta will benefit from $289 million investment, an increase of $14 million or 5.1%.
This includes a continuation of two transportation trials, the Rural Ride Time Reduction Project and the School Bus Wi-Fi Initiative. Transportation funding will also promote cooperative student transportation service, support special transportation services, enhance interschool transportation and adjust rural transportation density grid rates.
The Fuel Price Contingency Program, which helps school boards deal with fluctuating diesel fuel prices, will also continue. Boards receive additional funding whenever diesel fuel prices are above 60 cents/litre. Based on fuel prices of $1.20/litre, funding is expected to reach $22 million for the 2012/2013 school year.
Early Childhood Services Support
In order to accommodate the unique needs of early childhood education, support for children entering the education system through pre-school programs increases from $281.9 million to $306.3 million – an increase of $24.4 million or 9%. This will serve to improve early childhood learning services as well as accommodate an additional 2,960 new children, a 5.5% increase, entering the education system in September 2012.
English as a Second Language / Francisation Support
The number of students who require English as a Second Language and Francisation support in Alberta is increasing. In order for these students to have the best opportunities to succeed, support for this initiative will increase to $83.9 million – an increase of $8.5 million or 11%. This will support an expected increase of 7,560 new students requiring these programs in September 2012.
SuperNet Services
The Government of Alberta recognizes that all Alberta students deserve access to the best learning resources possible, which includes access to the internet. Therefore, Budget 2012 provides SuperNet Services with a 46% funding increase. This increase, from $12 million to $17.5 million, will sustain the Government’s commitment to provide internet connection bandwidth up to 20 megabytes to Alberta schools.
Private Schools and Private Early Childhood Services Operators
Alberta private schools will receive the same grant rate increases as public boards, resulting in a funding increase of $7.8 million or 4.2%.
Teachers’ Pension Plan
Government’s contribution to the Alberta Teachers’ Pension Plan increases by 9% or $27 million in 2012/2013 from $300 million to $327 million. Additional funding of $447 million is provided by Alberta Finance and Enterprise on behalf of teachers for service earned prior to 1992.
Infrastructure Funding
The province has budgeted $96 million for Infrastructure Maintenance & Renewal (IMR) for 2012/13. Since 2006, government has provided approximately $600 million under the Infrastructure and Maintenance Renewal grant to school boards to support maintenance needs.
The IMR program funds school renovation and/or upgrade projects valued up to $1 million: More information of IMR funding can be found in the Schools Capital Manual:
http://www.education.alberta.ca/department/ipr/capitalplanning/infrastructureresources.aspx
To view the current list of 76 new school and modernization projects, visit:
http://www.education.alberta.ca/department/ipr/capitalplanning/capital-projects.aspx
Education Business Plan
School Jurisdiction and Charter School Information Sheets
School jurisdiction and charter school information sheets reflect important information that school jurisdictions and charter schools are required to report to Alberta Education. The information sheets can help you find out more about the school jurisdiction or charter school in your community.
School Jurisdiction Funding Allocations
This link will take you to a breakdown of the funding for each school jurisdiction in Alberta. There you can find out the projected amount your school jurisdiction could receive in Budget 2012.
