Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Education and Childcare Demetrios Nicolaides announced next steps to address classroom complexity. (Image Credit: Government of Alberta)

By The Canadian Press

Provincial Politics

Alberta premier announces cash for extra staff to tackle complex classrooms

Feb 12, 2026 | 3:11 PM

Alberta’s government is spending $143 million to dispatch about 1,400 extra teachers and educational assistants to support students in strained elementary school classrooms across the province.

The bulk of new staff is meant for schools in Edmonton and Calgary to provide in-class help, where Premier Danielle Smith’s government says the latest data indicates the greatest need.

It’s part of a broader pledge it’s made to hire 3,000 new teachers and 1,500 educational assistants over the next three years.

In October, the government invoked the Charter’s notwithstanding clause to end a provincewide teachers’ strike and imposed a pay deal teachers previously rejected.

Smith says the strike laid bare teachers’ concerns about the pressures they were facing on the frontlines as more students demand more attention.

In the Community

Save-On-Foods supports Medicine Hat Public Library's Honeycomb House

Feb 05, 2026

What's On

Top five things to do at the Medicine Hat Public Library in February

Feb 01, 2026

What's On

Musician Lotus Wight to perform at the Medicine Hat Public Library in support of SPCA

Jan 30, 2026

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says they’re targeting kindergarten to Grade 6 classrooms first to focus on early intervention for complex needs.

The introduction of additional teachers and educational assistants in K–6 classrooms, to help students with the highest and most complex needs, will begin to restore appropriate learning conditions in at least some of Alberta’s classrooms. It’s important to also acknowledge that this is just the beginning of the work ahead.

Meantime, the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) says the introduction of additional teachers and educational assistants in K–6 classrooms, to help students with the highest and most complex needs, will begin to restore appropriate learning conditions in at least some of Alberta’s classrooms.

The ATA says it’s important to also acknowledge that this is just the beginning of the work ahead.

“We all know a single initiative cannot fully address the pressures felt in classrooms across the province, nor can it alone repair the years of erosion in supports, staffing and resources. Teachers will expect the government to fulfill the promises made to counter our systemic challenges, says ATA President Jason Schilling.  

ATA officials say the gathering and use of class size and complexity data to inform this practice, an initiative the ATA has championed for years, is particularly significant. They say, however, that policy that will make a difference must be grounded in transparent, province-wide data. 

“Recognizing and measuring classroom complexity validates what teachers experience daily and creates a foundation for sustained, evidence-based decision-making,” adds Schilling. 

The ATA says its now up to school boards to ensure that the additional staffing is quickly put into place. The Association says it will continue to monitor how these resources are deployed and advocate to ensure that they meaningfully improve classroom conditions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2026.