The Threat to Educational Choice in Alberta
A citizen initiative is underway to eliminate public funding for Alberta’s independent schools. If it succeeds, it could open the door to future cuts for Catholic, francophone, and charter schools, as well as student-tailored programs of choice in the public system and home education. This threatens every child's access to an affordable education that’s the right fit for them.
Today, over 288,000 Alberta students – more than 1 in 3 – learn outside the public system, including in separate, independent, and charter schools.
Independent schools currently receive 30% less per-student funding than public schools, while still teaching the same Alberta curriculum with Alberta-accredited teachers. Parents cover the rest through tuition and donations, saving taxpayers money while ensuring families can choose what works best for their children.
This support helps ensure that families from all walks of life, particularly those with fewer financial resources or children with special needs, can access the learning environment where their child is understood, supported, and able to thrive.
Alberta’s strength has always been freedom of choice, including how we educate our children. Every child is unique and deserves to have the education best suited to them.
Stand with us to protect parental rights and keep educational choice alive in Alberta.
"Should the Government of Alberta end its current practice of allocating public funds to accredited independent (private) schools?"
How the Process Works
If the organizers of the citizen initiative collect 180,000 signatures by February 11, they could force a province-wide referendum.
If this passes into law, funding for independent schools would be eliminated. Many would close, over 56,000 students would be impacted, and public schools would be overcrowded with thousands more students than they can handle. All Alberta families would be worse off, having lost the ability to find and choose a school which best meets their child’s learning needs.
And it would not stop there. Once funding is taken from independent schools, home education, Catholic, and charter schools could be next.
That’s why it’s critical to act now: to raise awareness, build support, and ensure Alberta families are ready to vote No if this initiative ever reaches the ballot.
By adding your name, you’re standing up for educational freedom, choice in Alberta’s future, and for giving every student the learning pathway that is best for them.
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Your donation helps strengthen this campaign by helping operations. If you would like to know more about who we are and how we plan to defend independent schools, please reach out to us at info@studentsfirstalberta.ca
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