Alberta Legislature

By Dean Bennett - The Canadian Press

Report says class size initiative a failure

Alberta says grant plan to cut class sizes has failed, costing $3.4 billion

Oct 18, 2019 | 11:02 AM

EDMONTON – Alberta’s education minister says a grant program to cut class sizes in schools has spent $3.4 billion over the last 15 years while failing to deliver results.

Adriana LaGrange says a report on the Class Size Initiative has barely “moved the needle” and they have to look at more effective ways of spending the money.

The initiative began in 2003 under the former Progressive Conservative government, directing money to schools to specifically reduce class sizes.

However, an education department audit released by LaGrange says kindergarten to Grade 3 classes have dropped by only 1.4 students on average during that time, well below targeted levels.

The report says the reason is schools were given autonomy to spend the money, with some diverting funds to other areas, such as support for special needs students.

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LaGrange says she are her officials are now deciding what to do with the grant, but that overall funding to education will not be reduced.