New funding for Alberta charter school expansion irks public education advocates

Alberta's premier says he wants to see a "flowering" of new charter schools across the province after loosening the rules for their creation.

Jason Kenney said he doesn't have a target number of charter schools in mind, but he wants to make it easier to meet parent demand.

"If we were to see a significant increase in additional charter schools or expansion of existing schools, we want the system to be flexible enough in its funding and administration to support that," he said at a news conference at Edmonton's Aurora Academic Charter School.

Kenney, along with his education and infrastructure ministers, talked up the funding set aside in the proposed 2022-23 provincial budget for the capital expenditures for and operation of charter schools.

The move drew ire Tuesday from advocates of public education, who say funding public schools should be the government's focus.

The chair of Edmonton's public school board called for public funding to charter schools to end.

There's $27 million in the proposed 2022-23 budget for buildings and leases for charter schools and vocational collegiates, and $6 million for additional operating and startup costs, with a promise of more dedicated dollars in the next two years.

The cash injection comes after the government lifted the provincial cap of 15 charter schools, and further loosened regulations to encourage community members to create more charter schools.

Since the United Conservative Party began the changes in 2019, two new charters have opened, bringing the number of operating schools to 15. Organizers have proposed at least two more.

The province also wants charters to consider forming "hubs" or campuses, where multiple schools could cluster together and share gymnasium space or sports fields, Kenney said.

One of the schools to receive new capital funding is Aurora, Education Minister Adriana LaGrange said. Since its inception 27 years ago, the K-9 school of 864 students has aimed to offer high school classes.

The government will help Aurora find building space to lease to make that happen this fall, LaGrange said.

It's gratifying news for Ian Gray, Aurora's superintendent. Since 2007, the school has operated out of an adapted public school building, and Gray said space is tight.

There are 3,000 names on the school's waiting list, he said.