Alberta Legislature in session, image via https://www.assembly.ab.ca
EDMONTON – The Alberta government is rolling out new financial and learning supports for families affected by the ongoing teachers’ strike, aiming to ease pressures on parents and help students maintain stability while classrooms remain closed.
The measures include expanded payments for families of children with complex care needs, a temporary boost to childcare subsidies, and additional learning options such as distance and home education. The province says the supports are meant to “help parents and students manage unexpected costs, reduce learning disruptions and provide stability during this uncertain time.”
Families with active Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) agreements will receive extra daily payments while the strike continues. Those with children aged 12 and under will receive $30 per child per instructional day, while families with children aged 13 and older will receive $60. The government says no separate application is required and that the funding is in addition to the Parent Payment Program already in place for younger students.
Under the combined programs, families of children 12 and under with an FSCD agreement will receive up to $300 per week, while those with older children can receive the same amount. Parents can apply through an online portal opening on October 14 on alberta.ca. The province notes that eligibility will be based on a student’s age at the start of the strike, even if they turn 13 before it ends.
The province is also increasing October childcare funding for eligible children in grades 1 to 6 who attend full-time out-of-school care. The temporary increase, which takes effect after five consecutive days of a strike, raises the maximum monthly subsidy to $644, matching summer rates. For older students, the government is lifting the 10-credit annual limit on distance education so high school students can continue earning credits. Families also have the option to move into home education programs, with both parents and supervising schools eligible for up to half of the home education grant.
To support learning and family well-being, Alberta’s provincial museums and heritage sites are offering free admission for anyone 18 and under during the strike, including the Royal Alberta Museum, Royal Tyrrell Museum, and Oil Sands Discovery Centre in Fort McMurray. The province has also released a free K–12 learning toolkit for parents, with online curriculum-aligned resources in English, French, and French immersion.
The government says it will continue to update learning materials and provide further support if the strike continues.
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