Class sizes concerning for local school districts

He adds that in kindergarten to grade 3, at least, they have never been able to accomplish Alberta Education’s guideline recommendations for class sizes during his time with the division, as there simply hasn’t been enough space.

“Two issues are important to us relative to this matter,” explains Mason. “The first one would be space concerns. By and large all of our schools have over 100 per cent utilization rates and this has been a priority of the board to advocate with local MLA’s and Ministry of Education officials for more space all the time for our school division.”

The second piece is funding, Mason says.

“We’re appreciative the government does fund new enrollment for school divisions. That’s beneficial for us but the funding rate has not kept pace with inflation,” he laments. “We’re being asked to take those dollars and stretch them even farther to meet the needs of students. So we are hopeful with the spring budget this topic will be addressed.”

Mason says last year’s data for his district indicates an average classroom size of 19.8 students in kindergarten to grade 3, where the current provincial guidelines call for 17.1. Red Deer Catholic saw an average of 23.3 students per classroom in grades 4 to 6, an average of 23.6 in grades 7 to 9 and 27.5 students in grades 10 to 12.

Red Deer Public Schools Board Chair Bev Manning says they, too, are above the province’s recommended class size guidelines, with a recent report noting pressure points in Grades 4-6 and 7–9.

“We do get some class size funding but it certainly isn’t enough to reduce class sizes drastically,” states Manning. “Our community has spoken to us loud and clear about what sort of things they find really important about education. Although they feel that class sizes are important, they also feel there are some other things that are important as well such as mental health for our students.”

Manning says initiatives such as having other adults in the classroom that can assist teachers, is another idea with lots of support, like having mental health workers, learning assistants and instructional design teachers in classrooms.

“We choose to put some money into those things and that makes our class sizes rise just a little bit,” explains Manning. “I feel that our principals and teachers have a really good handle on the composition of their classrooms and how things are going. I would suggest that the impact would be minimal, if any, because we have other adults in the classroom that are helping out.”

With a provincial election on the horizon, Manning admits they’re not overly optimistic in seeing a rise in per-pupil funding next year.

“We certainly understand the economy of Alberta and how things are going,” says Manning. “It would be awesome and we continue to lobby for it. We feel that education is a high priority for this government and for Albertans, so be that as it may, we’re not anticipating any increase.”

According to Red Deer Public School officials, funding is allocated to jurisdictions based on the number of children in Kindergarten, as well as the number of students in Grades 1 through 3 and an allotment for High School CTS courses.

Over the entire period Red Deer Public Schools has received Class Size Initiative funding, officials say they have consistently allocated a vast majority of the funds received in the same manner that Alberta Education has allocated the funds, namely for K – 3 class size, and CTS courses.

Unofficial numbers in the report indicate 2018-2019 class sizes as 20.0 students in grades K-3 with the provincial guideline recommending 17.

An average class size of 25 students in grades 4 – 6 with the provincial target being 23.

There is an average class size of 27.1 in grades 7-9 with the provincial target being 25 and currently class sizes averaging 25.1 in grades 10-12 with the provincial guideline recommending 27.

by Sheldon Spackman

Class sizes concerning for local school districts

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