To help schools address classroom complexity, Alberta’s government will begin collecting annual data on class size and composition.

Over the past three years, Alberta has welcomed more than 80,000 new students. With this unprecedented growth, classroom complexity and class sizes are among the biggest issues facing schools and teachers across the province.

To meet this challenge head on, Alberta’s government will work with school boards to gather yearly data on class sizes and composition. This information will be used to better understand staffing, student needs and classroom complexity. School boards will be required to submit data on Alberta classrooms by Nov. 24, and by January, this data will be made publicly available and will then be released annually.

Data collected on classroom complexity will help the province understand and address issues in schools, including class sizes, and support strategic investments in classrooms. Over the next three years, school boards will be provided with funding to hire 3,000 teachers and 1,500 new education assistants to support students with complex needs.

“We are ready to work with school boards and teachers to address classroom complexity and class sizes. We have heard them loud and clear and we are taking bold action to address these issues.”

Alberta’s government is establishing a Class Size and Complexity Task Force to begin work immediately on identifying solutions to the challenges facing Alberta classrooms. Alongside new annual data collection, the task force will ensure every student gets the attention and support they need to succeed. Details about the task force will be shared in the coming weeks.

“This data will provide essential insight into classroom realities, guiding evidence-based decisions and advocating for sustainable funding to address complexity, ensuring every student and educator in Alberta has the support to thrive.”

Quick facts

To inform decisions on addressing classroom complexity, data will be collected on total numbers of:

• all staff, per school, including roles
• substitute teachers
• district staff, listed by job title
• students, per classroom, per school
• severe, mild/moderate, and gifted/talented students, per classroom, per school
• English as an additional language (EAL) students, per classroom, per school
• refugee students, per classroom, per school
• First Nations, Métis and Inuit students, per classroom, per school
• Individualized Program Plans, per classroom, per school
• students waitlisted for assessment, per classroom, per school
• incidents of aggression and violence

• $55 million was provided in Budget 2025 to address classroom complexity.
• 8.6 billion is being invested to build and renovate more than 130 schools across the province.
• Budget 2025 is investing $1.6 billion in learning support funding to help meet students’ specialized learning needs.
• Budget 2025 is investing $1.1 billion to hire more than 4,000 teachers and educational staff.

If passed, Bill 2, the Back to School Act, will restore stability in Alberta’s education system and ensure students can return to learning without further disruption.

The ongoing teachers’ strike has disrupted classrooms across Alberta, setting back student learning and deepening achievement gaps. Each day schools remain closed, students lose critical instructional time, routine and support. This proposed legislation will end the strike and establish reasonable terms for a new teacher collective agreement.

“This strike has gone on long enough. It’s clear there’s no path forward unless we act. The Back to School Act refocuses everyone on what matters most, the education of Alberta’s students. Bill 2 puts students back at the centre of our system, while we continue to work with teachers and families to build lasting stability in Alberta’s schools.”

The Back to School Act legislates the terms of the September 2025 tentative agreement, which provided a 12 per cent salary increase over four years, additional market adjustments of up to 17 per cent for most teachers, and the hiring of 3,000 teachers and 1,500 educational assistants. The collective agreement will be in effect from Sept. 1, 2024, to Aug. 31, 2028.

“The time for labour stability is now. This legislation provides a positive path forward despite an interrupted school year. This is a necessary step and the most responsible decision for kids, teachers and parents. If Bill 2 is passed, it is my hope that classes will resume as soon as Wednesday, October 29.”

The last deal put on the table by the Alberta Teachers’ Association demanded an additional $2 billion from government. This was a clear display that the union had no intention to bargain in a reasonable manner with the government and present a fair offer.

“We believe invoking the notwithstanding clause is a necessary measure to end the undue hardship caused by the teacher strike. This strike has reached a point that is causing irreparable harm on student learning. Our government will not hesitate to use every available legal tool in defence of students.”

This legislation is the only responsible path forward to restore stability, protect students and ensure Alberta’s classrooms focus back on learning. Alberta’s government remains fully committed to strengthening the education system, supporting teachers, and putting the success and well-being of students at the heart of every decision made.

Key facts

• Bill 2 would end the province-wide teachers’ strike and legislates a new collective agreement.
• The agreement covers Sept. 1, 2024, to Aug. 31, 2028 and provides:
  • A 12 per cent salary increase over four years.
  • Additional market adjustments of up to 17 per cent for 95 per cent of members.
  • 3,000 new teachers and 1,500 educational assistants to reduce class sizes and enhance support.
• These terms reflect the September 2025 tentative agreement recommended by the Alberta Teachers’ Association leadership.
• The legislation includes financial penalties for non-compliance and suspends local bargaining during the agreement to ensure labour stability through 2028.