Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): School boards across rural and remote Alberta will receive additional financial support to help students with complex learning and behavioural needs access specialised services, as the provincial government rolls out an $11-million funding package.
The investment is intended to address challenges faced by schools in smaller communities, where distance and travel costs can make it difficult to bring qualified professionals to students. The funding will also support professional development for teachers and school administrators working in increasingly complex classroom environments.
Of the total amount, $5 million has been earmarked to help school authorities overcome geographical barriers to specialised student services. Boards can use the money to cover expenses such as transportation, mileage, accommodation and travel time for professionals, including speech-language pathologists, psychologists and physical therapists.
Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said the funding would help schools respond to the varied learning and behavioural requirements of students. He noted that reducing barriers to specialised assistance was particularly important for children living in rural and remote areas.
$6 million set aside for teacher training
The remaining $6 million will be directed towards training opportunities for educators and school leaders who manage classrooms with complex needs.
Eligible training areas include trauma-informed approaches, crisis management, behavioural assessments, conflict de-escalation, collaborative problem-solving and support for staff following critical incidents.
School boards will also be able to use the allocation to pay for substitute teachers. This will allow educators to attend training sessions without causing unnecessary disruption to regular classroom activities.
Fort Vermilion School Division superintendent Mike McMann welcomed the initiative, saying students in rural areas should have fair access to specialised assistance regardless of where they live. He said the funding would help strengthen schools’ ability to respond to individual student needs.
Reagan Weeks, vice-president of the College of Alberta School Superintendents, also pointed to the difficulties of arranging professional services in smaller and remote communities. He said travel-related expenses often stand between students and the support they require, while additional training would equip teachers and school leaders with practical skills for handling challenging classroom situations.
The latest $11-million allocation forms part of the $100 million announced by Alberta’s government in June to help school boards manage classroom complexity. The broader funding commitment is aimed at strengthening schools’ capacity to support students with diverse educational and behavioural needs.
