Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Facing record student growth and increasing classroom challenges, Alberta’s government has announced a new plan to collect yearly data on class size and composition to help guide education policy and funding decisions.
Over the past three years, more than 80,000 new students have joined Alberta’s school system, placing additional strain on teachers and classrooms across the province. To address these pressures, the province will now require school boards to submit detailed information about class sizes and student needs by November 24. The first public report is expected in January, with updates to follow annually.
According to the government, this initiative will provide a clearer picture of staffing levels, classroom diversity, and student complexity, ensuring that resources are better targeted where they are most needed.
“We are ready to work with school boards and teachers to address classroom complexity and class sizes. We have heard them loud and clear and we are taking bold action,”
said Demetrios Nicolaides, Alberta’s Minister of Education and Childcare.
New Funding and Staffing Commitments
As part of the broader plan, Alberta’s government will invest in hiring 3,000 new teachers and 1,500 education assistants over the next three years. These positions are intended to directly support classrooms dealing with diverse learning needs and rising student numbers.
Education officials say the data will help drive evidence-based decision-making, ensuring that investments are strategic and sustainable.
“This data will provide essential insight into classroom realities, guiding evidence-based decisions and advocating for sustainable funding to address complexity,”
said Mike McMann, representing the College of Alberta School Superintendents.
Task Force to Lead Long-Term Strategy
Alongside the new reporting system, Alberta is forming a Class Size and Complexity Task Force, which will immediately begin developing recommendations to tackle the challenges facing schools. The task force will engage with educators, administrators, and parents to identify practical solutions that improve student outcomes and teacher support.
Details about the task force’s composition and mandate are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
With this initiative, the province aims to strengthen its education system through transparency, collaboration, and data-driven planning — ensuring that every student in Alberta has the opportunity to learn and thrive.
