Calgary... School boards will receive provincial funding allowing them to hire approximately 2,250 new teachers and reduce class sizes over the next three years.

"The province already committed to reduce class sizes over five years as recommended by the Commission on Learning, but Albertans have made it clear they want smaller class sizes starting now," said Learning Minister Dr. Lyle Oberg. "This funding will allow us to reach the Commission guidelines two years earlier than planned, and students will benefit from reduced class sizes beginning this coming school year."

The following outlines the projected number of new teachers and the ongoing funding boards will receive:

The estimated number of new teachers is calculated by using the annual cost of salary and benefits for a teacher with five years education and five years experience-approximately $65,800.

Each school board will receive funding based on the estimated cost of achieving the recommended class size averages in its jurisdiction.

Funding will be enveloped and school jurisdictions must hire new classroom teachers to achieve the Commission's average class size guidelines by the 2006-07 school year.

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This announcement is available on the Internet at: http://www.learning.gov.ab.ca/news

Josepha Vanderstoop
Learning Communications
(780) 427-0965
Cell: (780) 718-2370

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Some boards are already below the projected averages in certain grades. The goal is for all school boards across the province to reach the Commission guidelines over three years.

The Commission's final report states there should be flexibility in class sizes and that, "[s]chool jurisdictions should be expected to meet the guidelines for average class sizes across their school jurisdiction. That means the guidelines would not necessarily be met in each and every classroom but should be met on average across the school jurisdiction."

The Learning Commission recommended that its class size guidelines be phased in over five years, at an estimated cost of $138 million.

Note: School jurisdiction averages, Alberta's Commission on Learning guidelines, and provincial class size averages include special education classes.

There are more than 32,000 certificated teachers in Alberta. Alberta Learning issues new teaching certificates to over 3,000 teachers every year. There are over 3,500 substitute teachers across Alberta.