Why Educational Choice Matters
Independent schools make up an important part of Alberta’s rich educational fabric!
If you find yourself in conversation with friends, family, or acquaintances about educational choice, consider using some of these talking points from the Association of Independent Schools & Colleges of Alberta (AISCA):
1. True Diversity at Risk
The funding supports schools for children with special needs, cultural minorities, faith-based, and specialized learning. This choice is vital.
2. Accessibility for All
Over 80% of AISCA families have an income at or below the provincial average. Government funding is what keeps these essential choices accessible to a wide range of families.
3. The Influx Crisis
Defunding would impact 56,000 students, pushing the majority of these children into the public system, massively worsening existing class size, space, and complexity problems.
4. ECS and Home Ed are Affected
The petition is written so broadly it would also eliminate funding for crucial, accredited Early Childhood Services (ECS) and support for home education students.
5. The Real Fiscal Question
Students in independent schools receive around $6500. These same children will cost taxpayers $13,000/year, as well as increasing capital costs.
This information is pertinent to WISDOM families because of WISDOM’s relationship to The Gilbertine Institute: a registered charity and non-profit organization which operates an associate private school, The Gilbertine Academy. The Gilbertine Academy supervises and supports home education programs through the WISDOM Home Schooling department.
Who we are (and how we’re connected)
WISDOM Home Schooling is the home education department of The Gilbertine Institute, which is an Accredited Independent School Authority in Alberta. (independent schools used to be called “private schools”, but legislation has been updated.) Our Independent School Authority enables us to support parent-directed home education across Alberta as WISDOM. The Gilbertine Institute also operates three small schools with a shared-responsibility, classical education focus.
Why you’re hearing about “independent vs public”
WISDOM agrees with a well funded public school system as well as choice of separate, francophone, charter, and independent schools.
An individual has circulated a petition for a referendum to de-fund independent schools, and we want you to have all of the information.
Independent schools exist to serve a specific vision and mission. WISDOM can serve traditional Home Education effectively because the vision of our independent school authority is to embolden, bolster, and support parents as primary educators to nurture their children to embrace Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.
How WISDOM funding actually works (the facts)
Something that was not clear in our last email was the funding for WISDOM students ($1802) versus funding for independent school students (about $6500). Here’s the breakdown:
- The Gilbertine Institute receives $1,802 for each funded Home Education student.
- Parents may access up to 50% of that grant ($901) for approved learning resources
- Alberta Education transfers the grant to the school authority 10% monthly (Sept–June). WISDOM makes half of parent funding available in Fall and half in Spring.
- The remaining $901 covers facilitator and staff salaries, operations, high school support, workshops, special needs consultation, tutoring, and service to unfunded families. Some families generously allocate to us their unused funds that strengthen WISDOM supports.
To find out all of the funding information for each student in Alberta, you can view AB Education’s Funding Manual here.
Why this matters to WISDOM families
Independent schools receive less per-student public funding than public systems. Even with that disparity, independent schools (including authorities like ours that serve a large number of home educators) serve tens of thousands of Alberta students and help keep class sizes and costs down throughout the province. Continued recognition and support for independent education protects your freedom to direct your child’s education with the services you value from WISDOM.
A quick way to understand the broader picture
AISCA (the Association of Independent Schools & Colleges of Alberta) offers simple talking points and a short explainer video on how independent schools are funded and why they matter to families and taxpayers. (Keep in mind that they do not specify home schoolers and our funding numbers which are a fraction of their base grant.) Watch here.
Key takeaways from AISCA in brief:
- Independent schools support true diversity (special needs, cultural and faith communities, specialised learning).
- Over 80% of families in AISCA schools are at or below the provincial median household income, and funding keeps choice accessible to them.
- If independent schools were defunded, a high percentage of their present 56,000+ students would flood the public system, increasing class sizes and costs.
- The fiscal reality: independent students receive far less per-pupil public funding than those in public systems, saving taxpayers money.
- All independent schools in Alberta are operated by non-profit organizations.
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