This release was issued under a previous government.

The new School Fees and Costs Regulation and the School Transportation Regulation remove the ability of school boards to charge for textbooks, workbooks, printing, photocopying and paper as well as bus fees for students living 2.4 kilometres or more from their designated school.

Busing fees have also been eliminated for special-needs students and kindergarten students travelling home over the noon hour. Students who live 2.4 kilometres or more from their designated school and take municipal transit will only pay the difference between provincial transportation funding and the cost of a municipal transit pass.

In addition, ministerial approval is now required for fees increasing by more than five per cent year-over-year.

“Our government is reducing school fees as we work to protect and improve education and make life better for Alberta families. These fees have gone unregulated for too long and most significant increases will now require my review and approval. We will continue to work with parents, school boards and other education partners to make even further reductions to fees in the years ahead.”

David Eggen, Minister of Education

School boards are responsible for setting school fees within the five per cent limit. Items like school bell times and professional development days are also at the sole discretion of individual school boards.

The new School Fees and Costs Regulation and the School Transportation Regulation were signed into law on June 5, 2017.