Bill calling for return of class size reporting defeated

Don’t expect to see reporting of Alberta’s class size data returning anytime soon.

The Alberta legislature recently defeated a private member’s bill that would have resumed the practice of publicly reporting class size data. The Government of Alberta ended this practice nearly five years ago, in 2019, when data was showing years of unprecedented growth in Alberta class sizes. 

Bill 202, the Education (Class Size and Composition) Amendment Act, called for the annual reporting of class size and composition data; the establishment of provincial standards for class size and composition; and the establishment of a commission on learning excellence to look at class size, composition and other educational issues. 

The bill was sponsored by Amanda Chapman, the NDP MLA for Calgary-Beddington.

“Alberta is growing, and that growth needs to be accommodated in our schools,” Chapman said during debate in the legislature. 

While class size funding is no longer reported, tracking of employment levels shows that the hiring of teachers in recent years has failed to keep up with rapid student population growth. Over the past five years (2018 to the last school year), enrolment rose by 25,000 students. Another 20,000 students are expected to be in schools this year. A return of provincewide class size data reporting would provide a clearer picture of the effect increased enrolment is having on Alberta schools, teachers and students.

“This government needs to let the sun shine in,” Chapman said, “and let Albertans see what is really happening in Alberta classrooms.”

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides stated that the bill would just create red tape for school divisions, when the focus needs to be on providing school divisions with the resources and supports required to deal with increasingly complex classrooms. 

At the second reading on Nov. 27, the bill was defeated, on division by a 44–19 vote with all UCP members present voting against the bill and all NDP members present voting for it.

Reflecting on the bill’s defeat, ATA president Jason Schilling said that the bill was just calling for information and transparency. 

“Alberta’s students are currently learning in the largest and most complex classrooms we have ever seen,” Schilling said. “Albertans deserve to know the facts about the current state of classrooms.”

He added that he would like to see the minister of education bring back class size reporting, even without the mandate proposed by Bill 202.

“Adequate support for public education should not be a partisan or political issue,” Schilling said, “Regardless of political stripe, Albertans across the board want to see well-funded classrooms.”