Public charter schools play a very important role in Alberta's education system. Charter schools are publicly funded, tuition-free schools that offer specialized educational programs and greater flexibility in how they deliver education, giving families more choice within the public education system.
Together, four new projects will create or renovate more than 5,150 student spaces. These new public charter schools will help school authorities in Calgary, Edmonton and Medicine Hat move forward with planning and design activities, creating and improving learning spaces for thousands of students.
"Alberta families value educational programs that reflect the unique needs, interests and goals of their children. By advancing these four public charter school projects, we are supporting parental choice and helping more students access high-quality learning environments for years to come."
Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education and Childcare
The approved projects are:
- Connect Charter School Society (Calgary) - Connect Charter School project, approved for planning funding
- New Generations Calgary Board (Calgary) - New Generations Calgary School project, approved for design funding
- the Centre for Academic and Personal Excellence (Medicine Hat) - CAPE Charter School project, approved for planning funding
- STEM Collegiate Canada Society (Edmonton) - Heritage Valley school project, approved for planning funding
"We're grateful for the province's planning funding to advance our Heritage Valley project, which will create high-quality, specialized STEM learning spaces for 1,200 students in Edmonton that will have an impact across Alberta for years to come."
Lara McClelland, board chair, STEM Collegiate Canada Society
With these four projects moving forward, Alberta's government has now approved 12 public charter school projects through Schools Now. The 12 projects will deliver more than 10,500 new and renovated student spaces, including almost 8,300 new and more than 2,200 renovated student spaces.
"This new 775-student high school will allow us to serve more Alberta families while continuing to deliver the innovative, high-quality public education our community expects."
Bryce Monar, chair, Board of Directors, Connect Charter School Society
Quick facts
- The four newly approved projects will create about 4,280 new student spaces and renovate more than 870 existing spaces.
- About $84 million in funding has been committed to advance the four projects, which is part of the larger $8.6 billion Schools Now program.
- Facility availability and capital costs can be significant challenges for public charter schools seeking to expand or establish new schools.
- Public charter schools can apply for capital funding through the annual capital planning process and may also submit in-year proposals through the Schools Now Charter School Construction Pilot Program.
- Public charter school project proposals are evaluated using the Charter School Evaluation Framework, a standardized process that assesses factors such as need, project feasibility and alignment with government priorities. The highest-priority projects are recommended for funding consideration.
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