Smith announces $143-million to add staff for complex Alberta classrooms

Premier Danielle Smith announced $143-million to fund about 1,400 extra teachers and educational assistants for elementary classrooms identified as complex, drawn from the 2025–26 ministry budget. Officials say the funding is part of a wider pledge to hire 3,000 teachers and 1,500 educational assistants over three years.

Alberta's government announced $143-million to place roughly 1,400 additional teachers and educational assistants in elementary classrooms flagged as complex. The funding is aimed mainly at schools in Edmonton and Calgary and is drawn from the ministry's 2025–26 budget. Officials framed the move as part of a broader plan to hire 3,000 teachers and 1,500 educational assistants over three years. Government statements link the decision to newly released class size and complexity data and to concerns raised by teachers during last year’s strike, which the government ended using the notwithstanding clause. What we know now: - The announcement funds about 1,400 extra staff focused on kindergarten to Grade 6 classrooms, with priority given to Edmonton and Calgary. - The $143-million comes from the ministry's existing 2025–26 budget and officials said funds will be distributed immediately so school boards can begin hiring. - New provincial data report an average class size of 25 students and say fewer than 1% of classes have more than 40 students. - The government’s data flag 655 schools and 4,486 classes as "high priority," while plans call for 476 "complexity teams" (one teacher plus two educational assistants each). - Officials said teams will provide one-on-one support, help manage disruptive behaviour and assist students learning English, and that all 61 school authorities will receive funding for at least one team. - Junior high and high-school classrooms are not receiving the same immediate funding boost; the government says it is prioritizing early grades for early intervention. Summary: The funding aims to target classrooms the government’s data identify as most complex and to get staff into those rooms quickly. Officials say the measure responds to pressures noted during the teachers’ strike and is part of a multi-year hiring pledge; funds are to be released to school boards immediately and the province will continue reviewing additional schools for support.