Alberta Accelerates School Projects to Address Class Space Demand

Alberta has expedited five school construction projects to address the increasing demand for classroom spaces in the province. The initiative includes three projects in Edmonton and one in Calgary, with four moving into the construction phase and one entering the design phase. This effort is part of the broader $8.6 billion School Construction Accelerator Program, which was launched in 2024.

Demetrios Nicolaides, Alberta’s Education Minister, explained in an interview with Postmedia that the province’s fast-tracking approach allows for projects to move to the next phase as soon as they are ready, rather than waiting for the next budget cycle. This adjustment has reportedly reduced the overall timeline from conception to completion by an average of six months. Nicolaides stated, “We’ve recognized the need to build schools quickly, so we adapted the program, and they moved through those stages a lot faster.”

The accelerated school projects in Edmonton include two funded by Edmonton Public Schools and one by the Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord. The Calgary project is in partnership with the Conseil scolaire FrancoSud, while another will be developed in Plamondon with the Conseil scolaire Centre-Est. The three Edmonton schools have already advanced from planning to design in September 2024, resulting in a nine-month acceleration for each project.

Alberta’s investment of $8.6 billion is projected to support approximately 200,000 school spaces, including the construction of 90 new schools, renovations or replacements for up to 24 facilities, and expansions for up to 15 public charter schools. Currently, there are 120 school projects underway throughout Alberta.

Given the province’s commitment to enhancing educational infrastructure, Nicolaides noted that the average completion time for a new school typically spans three to five years. When asked about future school openings, he indicated that various new spaces are expected to be operational in the coming years. “I don’t have a forecast in front of me, but I can definitely look at which schools might be closer to completion for the end of this year and the end of next year,” he said.

The high demand for classroom space has prompted school boards across Alberta to express concern over utilization rates. For the upcoming 2025-2026 school year, the province has approved the addition of 109 modular classrooms to accommodate the rising number of students. Funding for these modular units is typically allocated during the budget cycle at the end of March, with school divisions submitting requests based on their needs.

In the 2025 budget, the Alberta government committed to hiring 3,000 teachers over the next three years. This commitment was reiterated during negotiations with teachers in the previous fall. Nicolaides confirmed that some funds have already been allocated to support the hiring of 1,000 teachers this year, although he acknowledged the need for additional support to meet the target fully. While he did not provide exact numbers on hires to date, he assured, “We will absolutely get to that 1,000-teacher level by the end of the year.”

As Alberta continues to invest in its educational infrastructure, the acceleration of school projects reflects a proactive approach to meeting the needs of its growing student population.