Community support information

School communication

• Your child’s school board will provide updates about changes to school operations, programming or instructional services as information becomes available.
• Expect updates via school newsletters, e-mail, school apps or automated phone calls.

School board websites and social media

• Visit your school board’s website and follow its official social media channels for the most current and accurate information.
• Many school boards post FAQs, contingency plans and real-time updates during job action.

ATA channels

• The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) website and social media will post updates about the strike, including its purpose, its duration and the status of negotiations.

School closures

• Some schools may be fully closed if teachers withdraw all services. In this case, classroom instruction will not occur.
• Some schools may remain open, with limited supervision or partial (nonteacher) staffing, depending on the nature of the job action. This would be subject to each school board’s decisions.

Adjusted schedules or services

• If a full closure is not in place, schools may operate on reduced schedules or with modified programming.
• School trips, extracurricular activities or student supports may be postponed or suspended.

Support for diverse learners

• If your child has diverse learning needs, contact your school administration to discuss continuity of care and learning, especially if educational assistants or specialized staff are affected by the job action.
• The ATA is not responsible for decisions made by school boards regarding the continued employment of educational assistants or other nonteacher specialized staff.

Childcare arrangements

• You are responsible for arranging temporary child care, if required. Municipalities, community groups and childcare providers may offer temporary programming during strike periods. Explore options early.

Reinforce the routine

• Keeping a daily routine helps children feel safe and secure during periods of disruption. Set consistent times for waking up, eating meals, and engaging in learning or recreational activities.

Support learning at home

• Consider light, age-appropriate learning activities, such as reading, journalling, educational apps or science projects.
• Local libraries and online platforms often provide free resources and learning tools.

Talk about what’s happening

• Explain the situation to your child in an age-appropriate way. Let them know that their teachers care about them and are advocating for better conditions to help them learn.

Why strikes happen

• While rare, teacher strikes can happen when teachers and their employer (the government or school board) can’t agree on important issues, such as teaching and learning conditions (including class size and complexity) and pay.

Strikes are legal and structured

• Strike action is governed by Alberta’s Labour Relations Code and can occur only after strict legal steps, including mediation, cooling-off periods and a strike vote by teachers.