Province maintains commitment to educational choice
Funding to accredited funded private schools increases for new school year
Edmonton... The Alberta government has approved a funding increase to accredited funded private schools, which will go into effect for the 2008/2009 school year.
Accredited funded private schools will receive 70 per cent of applicable per student instruction grants such as the base instruction and English as second language grants, Alberta Initiative for School Improvement grants, and plant operations and maintenance per student grants. In exchange, eligible schools must agree to increased accountability measures or choose to remain at the current 60 per cent level of eligible per student grants.
To receive provincial funding, an accredited funded private school must follow the Alberta Programs of Study; employ Alberta certificated teachers; have students write Grade 3, 6, and 9 provincial achievement tests, as well as Grade 12 diploma exams; and be monitored by Alberta Education. In addition, they must be operated by a non-profit society or corporation.
In the fiscal year 2008/2009, support for accredited funded private schools will increase by $8 million, going from $109.7 million to $117.7 million, representing approximately 1.9 per cent of the total Education budget of $6 billion. Budgeted funds are available to meet the increase in financial support to accredited funded private schools without reducing funding to other program areas.
Approximately 30 per cent of total education spending is supported by property tax revenue while 70 per cent of education funding is supported by general revenues. Only public and separate schools are eligible by law to receive funds from education property taxes.
Accredited funded private schools in Alberta have been recognized with some level of funding support since 1967. The last time funding was reviewed was in 1998.
Private schools are one of the choices available to parents and students in the province. Government respects parental responsibility to make the educational choices they feel are best for their children. Private school enrollments comprise about 3.5 per cent of the student population in the province and there are 193 private schools located across Alberta. Of this number, 127 are accredited funded private schools.
For more information on private schools and accountability, visit www.education.alberta.ca/parents/choice/private.aspx.
