Overview
Funding for K to 12 education in Alberta from the 2020/21 to 2024/25 school years was calculated using a 3-year weighted moving average to provide predictable funding to school authorities.
With student enrolment continuing to grow, we have taken action to better support our school authority partners by ensuring new students account for a larger portion of the funding allocated.
We have adjusted our funding model to provide funding based on a 2-year average enrolment instead of a 3-year one. Starting in the 2025/26 school year:
- 30% of the funding will be based on the current school year’s enrolment
- 70% of it will be based on upcoming year projections provided by school authorities
This is a move that many school authorities requested, as it is more responsive to growth in metro and urban areas, while still shielding those with declining enrolment.
Funding from the Alberta government supports the provision of approved education programs for students and children in Early Childhood Services to Grade 12.
Grant categories
The education funding framework provides financial support through 5 main categories of grants. These categories are:
- base instruction funding
- program supports and services funding
- school-based funding
- community-based funding
- authority-based funding
Program supports and services provides additional funding for certain students, such as English as a second language learners. Community-based funding is focused on community characteristics, such as socio-economic and geographic challenges faced by school authorities. Funding may be targeted in nature or general. Targeted funding may only be used for the specific purpose it was provided; examples include transportation and system administration.
Allocation of funding
The funding framework allocates funding directly to school authorities, who then allocate funding to individual schools. The education funding model provides school authorities with flexibility to meet the needs of the children and students they serve.
The Funding Manual provides details of the funding formula and allocation approach for the school year, including:
- funding criteria
- funding rates
- reporting requirements
- payment schedule
In addition to information on each grant, the Funding Manual provides the overall conditions that each authority must follow as recipients of provincial funding.
Resources
Funding manual and handbooks
Application forms
Funding application forms are available in electronic format.
You must have an Extranet ID and your secretary-treasurer must have given authorization to the help desk for you to access these forms. Only the secretary-treasurer may submit these funding application forms.