Education Funding for the Two Largest Districts

CBE and EPSB Funding for 2023-24

Education funding

GROK what was Calgary Board of Education’s budget allocation last year? How many students did they have enrolled? How much per student did they get? (GROKs figures were checked personally and are correct)

Based on available information, here’s a breakdown of the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) budget allocation, student enrollment, and per-student funding for the 2023-2024 fiscal year:

• Budget Allocation: The CBE received approximately $1.45 billion in revenue from the Government of Alberta for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. This represents a net increase of $100.6 million compared to the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Additionally, the CBE received $113.3 million in non-government revenue (e.g., fees, sales, and other sources), bringing the total revenue to around $1.563 billion. Total expenses for the year were approximately $1.564 billion, resulting in a $4.8 million operating deficit, which was 0.3% of the total annual expenditures.
  
  

• Student Enrollment: The CBE had 127,706 students enrolled in the 2023-2024 school year, with 93,478 in Grades 1 through 9 and 34,228 in Grades 10 through 12. This marked a 5.8% increase from the previous school year and an 11% increase from 2021-2022. Enrollment data also indicated an additional 7,029 new students for 2023-2024, double the typical growth pre-COVID.
  
  
  

• Per-Student Funding: The CBE received $9,076 per student in the 2023-2024 fiscal year from Alberta Education. However, when adjusted for inflation since the 2016-2017 fiscal year, the CBE estimated that per-student funding should have been $10,839 to maintain purchasing power, indicating a shortfall of approximately $1,763 per student, or about $238 million in total funding.
  
  

These figures reflect the financial and enrollment challenges faced by the CBE, including rapid enrollment growth and inflationary pressures, which have strained the budget despite increased provincial funding. For further details, you can refer to the CBE’s official financial reports or Alberta Education’s budget documents.

Grok what EPSB will get for funding for 2025-2026, and how much does this work out per student?

For the 2025-2026 school year, Edmonton Public Schools (EPSB) has a total operating budget of $1.24 billion, which reflects a $50.5 million (4.3%) increase over the previous year. This funding comes primarily from the Alberta government, adjusted under the new Assurance and Enrolment Model (AEM), with 30% based on current-year enrollment and 70% on projected enrollment. EPSB is also drawing $27 million from its operating surplus and $12.5 million from capital reserves to balance the budget.

Projected enrollment for 2025-2026 is approximately 125,000 students, a 4.1% increase (about 4,300 students) from September 2024. To calculate per-student funding, divide the total budget by the number of students:

$1,240,000,000 ÷ 125,000 = $9,920 per student

This is a rough estimate, as the budget includes fixed costs, administrative expenses, and staffing (over 80% of the budget), and not all funds are directly allocated per student. The new AEM reduces unfunded students to 1,301 from 4,002, improving per-student funding predictability, but specific per-student allocations vary based on factors like grade level and special needs, which aren’t detailed in the available data.

For precise per-student funding details, you’d need to check EPSB’s detailed budget breakdown on their official website or contact them directly, as the exact distribution depends on the AEM’s weighted formula.

What is the funding formula used.

The Alberta government uses the Assurance and Enrolment Model (AEM) for funding K-12 education in the 2025-2026 school year, which replaced the Weighted Moving Average (WMA) model. The AEM calculates funding for school authorities like Edmonton Public Schools (EPSB) based on a combination of enrollment data, with the following key components:

• 30% of funding is based on the current school year’s actual enrollment (as of September 30, 2025, for the 2025-2026 school year).

• 70% of funding is based on projected enrollment for the upcoming school year, provided by school authorities.

This shift from the WMA, which relied on a three-year rolling average (20% from two years prior, 30% from the previous year, and 50% projected), aims to be more responsive to enrollment growth in urban areas like Edmonton while providing stability for jurisdictions with declining enrollment. The AEM reduces the number of unfunded students by aligning funding more closely with current and projected student counts. For EPSB, this change decreased unfunded students from 4,002 in 2024-2025 to 1,301 in 2025-2026.

The funding formula includes five main grant categories to support education programs from Early Childhood Services to Grade 12:

1. Base Instruction Funding: Provides per-student funding, with different rates for various grade levels (e.g., kindergarten students are counted at 0.5 full-time equivalent, even for full-day programs). This forms the core of operational funding.

2. Targeted Grants: Additional funding for specific student needs, such as English as a Second Language learners, students with disabilities, refugees, or Indigenous students.

3. System Administration Grant: A fixed amount to standardize administrative and governance spending, ensuring funds prioritize classrooms.

4. Facility and Maintenance Grants: Supports costs like utilities, insurance, and facility upkeep (e.g., Capital Maintenance and Renewal and Infrastructure Maintenance and Renewal funding).

5. Program Supports and Services: Funds specialized supports for inclusive education and other student-specific services.

The exact funding rates and formulas for each grant are detailed in the Funding Manual for School Authorities 2025/2026, available online. For example, base instruction funding varies by grade, and targeted grants depend on student demographics and needs. The elimination of the Supplemental Enrolment Growth Grant, which previously provided $3,000 per student above a 5% growth threshold, has slightly offset the AEM’s benefits, contributing only an additional $1 million to EPSB despite enrollment growth.

For EPSB, the total operational funding for 2025-2026 is $1.24 billion for a projected 125,173 students, reflecting a 4.5% provincial budget increase to address enrollment growth and staffing needs. However, rising costs (estimated at 7.3%) and the removal of the supplemental grant mean funding may not fully cover all expenses, particularly for specialized needs.