EDMONTON — Alberta’s government says Budget 2026 will make a record investment in education aimed at adding more teachers and support staff, addressing classroom complexity and managing growing student enrolment.
The provincial budget, if passed, would provide $10.8 billion in operational funding for education, an increase of $722 million over the previous year. The government says the funding works out to about $54 million for every school day.
The budget includes funding to hire more than 1,600 teachers and 800 support staff in the 2026-27 school year. The province says the investment builds on $143 million announced earlier this month to help address class sizes and classroom complexity, including specialized teams made up of teachers and education assistants.
Over the next three years, education funding is projected to grow by almost $1.5 billion, reaching $11.5 billion by 2028-29. The government says the increase is expected to support the hiring of more than 5,000 teachers, education assistants and other support staff.
Premier Danielle Smith said the spending responds to enrolment growth and challenges facing classrooms.
“Budget 2026 builds on that momentum with the largest investment in education in Alberta’s history. We will continue strengthening our education system to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed,” Smith said in a statement.
Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said the spending is aimed at helping schools manage increasingly complex learning environments and growing demand for supports.
The budget includes $1.8 billion for students with specialized learning needs, an increase of $86.5 million. It also proposes nearly $560 million in enrolment funding over three years to help school boards hire additional staff, along with $355 million next year specifically targeted at class size and classroom complexity.
The government says $20 million would be invested in reading and math supports for early learners in 2026-27, while $458 million is earmarked for student transportation serving more than 348,000 students. Another $41 million is set aside to continue curriculum renewal, including teacher training and classroom resources.
Officials say almost 99 per cent of the education operating budget goes directly to school authorities delivering services to students. Since Budget 2022, funding for school authorities has increased by more than $2.35 billion, representing a 28 per cent increase.
The budget measures still require legislative approval.
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