Alberta School Boards Association’s member school boards pass positions that will guide provincial advocacy

June 5, 2023, Calgary, AB — Alberta School Boards Association’s (ASBA) locally-elected public, catholic and francophone school board members came together today in Calgary for the business day of ASBA’s Spring General Meeting.

The following position statements were passed by member boards, which will guide ASBA’s provincial advocacy:

Equitable funding for displaced students, refugee students and refugee claimants

That, the Alberta School Boards Association advocate to the Provincial government:

1. That all students who are identified as “refugee students”, “students claiming refugee status”, “Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) displaced students”, and “non-CUAET displaced students” have access to equitable funding based on their need and not on country of origin.
2. That students who are identified as “refugee students” receive the second count date and prorated funding equal to that of those defined as “CUAET displaced students” in addition to continuing to have access to, at a minimum, five years of Refugee or English as an Additional Language funding.
3. That students who are identified as “students claiming refugee status” receive all funding equal to that of those defined as “refugee students”, and the second count date and prorated funding equal to that of those defined as “CUAET displaced students”.
4. That all students who are identified as “CUAET displaced students” be eligible for, at a minimum, five years of funding equal to that of those defined as “refugee students”.
5. That students who are identified as “non-CUAET displaced students” receive all funding equal to that of those defined as “refugee students”, and the second count date and prorated funding equal to that of those defined as “CUAET displaced students”.

Per student per subject curriculum implementation funding

That, the Alberta School Boards Association advocates for the Government of Alberta to shift to per student per subject funding for Curriculum Implementation Resource funding based on actual student enrollments beginning in September 2023, and moving forward, for teaching and learning resources required to implement the new Curriculum, thereby ensuring equity of resource funding for all students and encouraging more optional implementation.

Curriculum advocacy

That, the Alberta School Boards Association advocate for the Government of Alberta to continue meaningful consultation and collaboration with stakeholders and school boards on curriculum implementation and on any further curriculum development. Further, that the Government of Alberta advance curriculum implementation one grade at a time effective the 2023/24 school year.

Generative discussion and professional development

Member boards and their administration additionally participated in a generative discussion on June 4 on insurance and transportation, and will take part in professional development on June 6.

Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) serves Alberta’s 61 locally-elected public, catholic and francophone school boards. For more information visit asba.ab.ca.

Media inquiries:
Katy Campbell
Director of Communications, ASBA
780.451.7137 | kcampbell@asba.ab.ca