Province shifts funding for school services to COVID-19 response

The Alberta Government has moved funding going to school boards for transportation and other costs to handling COVID-19.

While funding for teachers and most other aspects of the K-12 system is being maintained, the province said on Saturday, that other supports will be moved.

Funding for transportation and substitute teachers and educational assistants is being temporarily reduced while in-person classes remain cancelled, the province said.

Any savings from these adjustments will be re-allocated to support Alberta’s COVID-19 response.

The release said school authorities will receive the funding they require to continue at-home learning for students, so they don’t fall behind.

“COVID-19 has changed both how we provide student learning, and the operational needs of the education system,” said Minister of Education, Adriana LaGrange in the release.

“I want to stress that this is a temporary arrangement as schools focus on at-home learning. I have full confidence the system will continue to be equipped to successfully deliver our education continuity plan.”

Classes were cancelled in schools on March 15th but now students are working through some course materials at home while their final mark is solidified.

Any staff impacted by these funding adjustments will qualify for the federal government’s enhanced employment insurance program and other support programs for Canadian workers, the province said.