As conversations unfold across Alberta about the current public teacher strike and funding for independent schools, we know many families are navigating questions and perspectives from friends, neighbours, and colleagues.
At River Valley School, we believe that a strong, well-funded public education system benefits everyone, and that independent schools are an important, complementary part of Alberta’s education landscape.
To help families engage in meaningful discussions, we’ve included some facts below, along with a short video created by the Association of Independent Schools & Colleges in Alberta (AISCA):
Key Points & Conversation Starters
- Independent schools support — not compete with — public education.
We share concerns about class sizes and funding, but defunding independent schools isn’t the answer. Removing support would push more than 56,000 students into public classrooms, increasing pressure on teachers, space, and resources. - Independent schools reflect Alberta’s diversity.
Independent schools serve families from all walks of life, with more than 80% earning at or below the provincial average. They offer a wide range of programs, from inquiry-based and arts-integrated learning to language immersion and Montessori, and provincial funding also supports schools for children with special needs, cultural minorities, faith-based education, and specialized learning. - They’re cost-effective.
Students in independent schools receive about $6,500 in government funding, compared to $13,000 in the public system. That means they educate students at roughly half the cost while helping reduce strain on public classrooms and infrastructure. - They’ve always been part of Alberta’s system.
For more than a century, independent schools have offered families meaningful choice and innovative programs — all within Alberta’s provincially regulated education framework. - They include ECS and home education programs.
Many Early Childhood Services (ECS) programs and home education initiatives operate as independent schools. Removing government support would directly affect these foundational learning opportunities for Alberta’s youngest students and families who learn at home.
(Created by AISCA – the Association of Independent Schools & Colleges in Alberta)
Why it Matters
We are all partners in education — parents, teachers, and schools of every kind, working toward the same goal: helping children learn, grow, and thrive. Alberta’s strength has always come from offering choice, balance, and accessibility, ensuring every child can find a learning environment where they feel seen and supported.
Independent schools are proud to stand alongside our colleagues in the public and separate systems. We share the same hopes for fair funding, smaller class sizes, and sustainable supports for teachers and students alike. While we are not the cause of current funding challenges, we remain an important part of the solution — helping to ease classroom pressures and expand opportunities for Alberta families.
Together, we can continue building a well-supported, inclusive education system that serves every Alberta student.