Students, staff and families say classroom complexity is on the rise across Red Deer schools

“We heard from students, staff and families that classrooms are becoming increasingly more complex, with a wide range of academic, behavioural, social-emotional and mental health needs present at the same time,” said Board Chair Nicole Buchanan in a media release. “This engagement was an opportunity to better understand those experiences and identify where we can take meaningful action.”

Some of the most significant contributors to classroom complexity, according to the report, are behavioural regulation needs, mental health concerns, academic gaps and the impacts of trauma.

More specifically, staff reported that increasing complexity is reducing instructional time, while students and families described challenges related to focus, engagement and emotional well-being.

The report also indicated that some supports are making a positive difference, including educational assistants, learning assistance teachers, student support rooms and counselling supports. The division says those were consistently identified as valuable resources that help students succeed.

“What we heard is that many effective supports already exist in our schools, but access, timing and coordination matter,” said Superintendent Chad Erickson. “Students benefit when support is available early, when trusted adults are present and when families have clear communication about how their children are being supported.”

Several actions have already been put into motion, including the deployment of 12 classroom complexity teams, through to provincial funding and division investment. Red Deer Public Schools said these teams have been successful so far in providing targeted support to students and classrooms while increasing adult presence in schools.

Additional actions planned for the 2026-27 school year include expanding classroom complexity teams by seven teams, increasing support staff capacity, providing additional training for education assistants and strengthening consistency in how supports are accessed and delivered across schools.

“This report represents an important step in understanding the challenges and opportunities facing our classrooms,” said Nicole. “Most importantly, it reflects our commitment to listening to our school communities and using their feedback to guide decisions that support student success.”

The You Said, We Heard, We Did Classroom Complexity Final Report is available on the Red Deer Public Schools website.

by rdnewsNOW staff

Students, staff and families say classroom complexity is on the rise across Red Deer schools

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