Education
More money not the answer for schools—just look at Alberta
From the Fraser Institute
If you didn’t already know, higher government spending on schools doesn’t necessarily produce better results. Just look at what’s happening in Alberta.
According to Statistics Canada, from 2012/13 to 2021/22 (the latest year of available data), per-student spending in Alberta increased by 2.1 per cent from $13,146 to $13,421. After adjusting for inflation, this amounted to a 17.2 per cent spending reduction.
This stands in sharp contrast to most other provinces. During the same 10-year period, inflation-adjusted per-student spending increased in Quebec (by 24.6 per cent), British Columbia (5.1 per cent) and Ontario (0.5 per cent). By the raw numbers, Alberta now spends less per student than any other province.
The results?
According to the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests, Alberta students scored second only to Quebec on their math skills and almost half a grade level ahead of their peers in B.C. (even though B.C. spent $1,468 more per student in 2021/22). Even better, Alberta students scored highest in the country on their PISA reading and science assessments. This is exactly the opposite of what we’d expect if less spending hurt student performance.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that money is irrelevant. In countries that spend considerably less on education than Canada, more spending does correlate with better academic results. Excessive teacher turnover harms student learning and students must be in a stable learning environment to excel. If teachers aren’t paid enough to make a decent living, they will not remain in the profession, and students will suffer.
However, things are quite different in Canada where all provinces including Alberta already spend a significant amount on education. Governments should spend more wisely rather than simply pour more money into the education system.
Since Alberta is a top-performing province, it’s worth asking what makes this province different. Simply put, Albertans have more educational choice than any other province. Not only does Alberta have fully-funded public and separate school systems, accredited independent schools receive 70 per cent of per-student grants available to public schools, which makes it easier for independent schools to keep tuition affordable for parents. And it’s the only province to allow charter schools, which are fully-funded public schools that operate independently from government school boards. This makes it easier for charter schools to offer specialized programming based on parental demand and creates an incentive for government school boards to diversify their programming options.
Alberta also has a rigorous standardized testing program. Grades 6 and 9 write provincial achievement tests in English language arts, math, science and social studies. Meanwhile, Grade 12 students write diploma exams in a variety of courses that are worth 30 per cent of their final mark. These tests and exams play an important role in holding schools accountable.
However, before Alberta politicians get too comfortable, it’s important to note that Alberta, despite its relative success compared to other provinces, saw a significant decline in academic achievement over the last 20 years. The latest PISA tests show that Alberta students declined in their math skills by 45 points from 2003 to 2022. To put this in perspective, PISA equates 20 points with approximately one grade level. In other words, Alberta students are (on average) approximately two years behind in their math skills than they were in 2003.
Getting to the root cause of this decline will take considerable effort. But one thing we know for sure—despite any rhetoric to the contrary, simply spending more money will not solve this problem. As another school year begins, policymakers in Alberta and across the country should keep this in mind.
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Just when we thought our smiles couldn’t get any bigger – they did! And we have the Red Deer community to thank for their overwhelming support.
We are so excited to share the total from the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign this past spring…and it’s very impressive. In fact, it’s an all-time record, and we couldn’t be more grateful.
Over the long-week campaign held April 28-May 4, Red Deerians indulged in a lot of cookies – $80,773 worth! These funds will go directly to helping struggling readers become readers of potential through Reading College, a project of The Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools.
Reading College, held each July, provides students with identified reading gaps an incredible summer experience that builds their skills, confidence, and love for reading. Students leave the program with stronger reading and writing abilities, and a solid foundation for success in school and life. Now in its 14th year, 1,000 students have graduated from Reading College.
“We continue to be amazed by the generosity of our community and the partnership with Tim Hortons,” said Kristine Plastow, Board Chair for The Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools. “These dollars directly impact kids who need extra support to become confident readers. The difference this program makes is life-changing.”
Tanya Doucette, Tim Hortons Restaurant Owner in Red Deer, said it’s incredible to see what can happen when a community comes together. The simple act of purchasing a cookie by so many amazing guests, makes a huge difference for young students right here in Red Deer.
“This record-breaking year shows how much our guests care. We are so pleased to support Reading College and help give students the tools they need to thrive,” she said.
When you meet Brayden Chenier, a Grade 8 student at GH Dawe School, it’s clear why he’s been chosen to represent youth across Alberta. Brayden is the proud recipient of the Integrated School Support Program Provincial (ISSP) Chief Youth Courage Award, presented by the Calgary Police Youth Foundation, in recognition of his resilience, leadership and commitment to his community.
The award celebrates students who demonstrate courage and dedication to becoming a responsible and caring citizen, especially within a diverse school and community, and was presented earlier this spring at the Calgary Police Awards Gala. As part of the honour, Brayden will now serve as a youth ambassador, helping to raise awareness about child and youth crime prevention, education, and intervention programs across the province.
“It’s pretty surreal that I will be all over the province for a year,” said Brayden. “I am looking forward to helping out in the community.”
Brayden has been part of the ISSP program through GH Dawe School since 2023 and has benefited greatly from the support offered.
With the support of the mental health professional, Brayden has been able to successfully navigate a variety of challenges in his life including coming to terms with his disability and navigating a tragic loss in his life.
Born with clubfoot, Brayden has never let his physical disability stand in his way. He is an avid athlete in a number of sports including hockey, basketball, golf, track, volleyball and soccer. His goal is working towards becoming an athlete in the Paralympics.
Brayden was nominated by GH Dawe School Counsellor Amy Johansson, who described him as a compassionate, kind, hardworking, and honest person who is driven and motivated to be his very best at all that he attempts.
She added that within the GH Dawe School community, Brayden is a highly respected citizen by all students and staff. “He is highly committed to sports connected to our school, as well as sports outside of our school community. Brayden works diligently at his academics. And is so very helpful and caring, always. Brayden works to overcome a list of things that he will not allow to hold him back.”
GH Dawe School is part of Alberta’s Integrated School Support Program – a child wellness initiative aimed at improving academic performance and the overall well-being of students. The program supports schools like GH Dawe with services to meet the diverse needs of students and families.
As he takes on his role as a provincial ambassador, Brayden continues to be a role model for his peers and a reminder of the power of perseverance and community support.
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