EMERGENCY UPDATE: ALBERTA TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION TO STRIKE
The Alberta Teachers’ Association has announced their intention to begin “job action”, otherwise known as a strike, on October 6th - just three and a half weeks from now.
Alberta has not had a full teacher strike since 2002, so many Albertans may not be aware of just how extremely disruptive they can be.
A strike would have a severe impact on students, families, and the economy - especially given such a high proportion of our population in Alberta is school-aged children, more so than any other province.
Academic studies of the impact of teacher strikes have found that they:
- lower immediate test scores,
- increase absenteeism,
- reduce the life-long education students attempt to receive,
- harm life-long earnings for students, and
- hurt immediate earnings for the family of the student.
So, obviously, we are all hoping a strike can be avoided.
But, we also need to tell you something important about the way Alberta’s funding model currently works in relation to this strike, which many other commentators are likely to miss.
In Alberta, September 29th is “September Count Date”.
When we talk about funding following the child to the school of their choice, this is the day that determines how much will follow them!
So, if a work stoppage would prompt you to make other arrangements for your children’s education, you should strongly consider moving your child to that arrangement by September 29th:
- Charter schools are non-union, though you probably cannot find a seat, since they all have long waiting lists already.
- All but one independent (or private) school is also non-union, but many of them are also fully subscribed.
- Reimbursements for home education expenses (and provincial transfers to the supervising school authority) also have a September Count Date of September 29th!
We encourage you to share this information with other parents and inform as many as we can.
We will continue to mention it in major media appearances, as well.
Ultimately, though, we understand that some parents won’t know about the September Count Date, and even more parents won’t want to make alternate arrangements, in hopes that a settlement is reached.
We also hope that will happen!
But if it does not, we need a backup plan.
In the past, we have advocated for a more dynamic funding model that responds to mid-year changes more seamlessly.
And, as you all know, we think funding should always follow the child.
But, during a strike, it’s even more vital that it does.
That’s why we’re calling on the Government of Alberta to introduce a temporary program that would see their child’s share of provincial education funding to follow them to whatever alternative education arrangements parents can make to continue their learning during a strike.
We have called this idea an Education Continuity Allowance.
This allowance could be used towards a school that is open and willing to take the child, towards tutoring, temporary home education materials, an online course, hands-on training in a profession, or any combination of these.
If a student's school is closed, the money should follow that child to any education their family chooses to fill the gaps!
With the money that would already be spent on a given child, families should decide how best to replace the education opportunity torn away from the child by squabbling adults!
If you agree and want to tell the Government of Alberta to introduce these Education Continuity Allowances, please sign the petition to Strike-Proof Alberta Students:
After you've signed, please send it to your friends, family, and every Albertan!