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Education funding details a step in the right direction, says board chair

PEncil

ST. PAUL - School divisions across the province have been anxiously waiting for details on what a new education funding model will look like, and last week they received some of those details through a Government of Alberta announcement.

On Feb. 18, the provincial government offered information on what it describes as “a new way to fund Alberta’s K-12 education system.”

The release says, “The new model streamlines operations and directs more dollars to each school division. In the 2020-21 school year, every single division will see an increase in operational funding.”

St. Paul Education Regional Division board chair Heather Starosielski said the division has been “anxiously” waiting for information regarding the new funding model.

“It was a welcome surprise to receive some details well ahead of the provincial budget that will be released later this month,” said Starosielski. “So far, this new model appears to be a step in the right direction in regards to providing some predictability on funding and allowing for more autonomy.”

The new model will move away from basing funding on one-year enrolment counts and instead will use a three-year average, “minimizing the need for mid-year adjustments to school budgets,” according to the media release. “The move will help school divisions plan their finances well in advance of the start of the school year.”

According to Starosielski, the new model will also strip down the number of grants from 36 to 15, “Which should help with some of the reporting requirements and allow for greater flexibility to adapt to the unique needs of each division.”

One of the highlights of the new model listed will be simplifying grants.

“School boards can now spend less time on unnecessary reporting and administration work and more time focusing on students,” said Grant Hunter, Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction, in the media release.

A second highlight is providing funding to support specialized learning needs, including Program Unit Funding (PUF), funding for English as a Second Language students, French as a Second Language students, refugee students, and First Nations, Métis and Inuit students.

Managing system growth and providing funding predictability are also listed as highlights.

“A move to a block-funding model for small rural schools will also ensure the long-term viability of these schools where per-student funding does not provide adequate resources to properly deliver programs and services,” reads the release.

The province met with each public, separate and Francophone school division, along with other partners, in the fall of 2019. Divisions, overall, said they wanted more predictability and flexibility in funding, according to the government.

“This funding approach is a significant change from the current model,” admits Conseil scolaire Centre-Est board chair Reginald Roy, when asked for comment on the announcement. He added, “Until such time as we see the budget and the complete funding details, it is very difficult for us to evaluate it and comment on it.”

“Once the actual budget is delivered on Feb. 27, we will review further and be able to comment in greater detail. St. Paul Education's goal is still to protect the classroom,” said Starosielski.


Janice Huser

About the Author: Janice Huser

Janice Huser has been with the St. Paul Journal since 2006. She is a graduate of the SAIT print media journalism program, is originally from St. Paul and has a passion for photography.
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