ALBERTA
Funding for four new francophone school projects

Budget 2023 includes funding for four new francophone school projects, including a new secondary school in Airdrie for students in grades 7 to 12 and a project for École Michaëlle-Jean and École Gabrielle-Roy in Edmonton.

Ensuring students are learning from an up-to-date and knowledge-rich French First Language and Literature curriculum will help preserve francophone culture and identity as well as strengthen their communities.

"We are proud to offer an exceptional francophone education in Alberta. These new school projects across the province will go a long way to support Alberta's growing francophone communities, giving students new spaces to learn and develop their French language skills and francophone culture. We will always continue to support French language education and invest in new schools as well as provide updated and enhanced curriculum."

Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education

More than 9,000 Alberta students are enrolled in francophone schools across the province. Additional support for francophone schools includes increases to their operating budgets, an increase in the francophone equivalency grant rate by six per cent to a total of $7.7 million, and increased funding to ensure francophone students can access safe, reliable transportation to and from school. 

"We appreciate Minister LaGrange's willingness to listen as well as the collaboration which has developed with Alberta Education in the last few years. Significant improvements have been made in the reinstatement of the French Language Services Branch, the adjustment of the francophone equivalence grant and the addition of the elements of culture, language and identity in the French First Language and Literature curriculum. The FCSFA will continue to work with Alberta Education to attain substantive equivalence for Alberta's francophone schools."

Tanya Saumure, president, Fédération des conseils scolaires francophones de l'Alberta 

"École francophone d'Airdrie opened its doors 18 years ago. Considering the strong increase in the student population, it became obvious that this school was no longer suitable to accommodate students from kindergarten to Grade 12. We are extremely grateful that the Government of Alberta recognizes the need to provide our students in grades 7 to 12 with a true high school that will be tailored to their needs."

Marco Bergeron, president, Conseil scolaire FrancoSud

"The construction of a secondary school is excellent news for the francophone community of Airdrie. It is essential that students from grades 7 to 12 have access to facilities that are adapted for career and technology studies, sciences, fine arts, music and sports. This new school will provide them with a real high school experience, alongside their peers, in a stimulating francophone environment."

Daniel Therrien, superintendent, Conseil scolaire FrancoSud

Supporting new francophone curriculum

Alberta's government is committed to strengthening the learning of French as a first language in schools. Starting this fall, K-3 students in francophone schools across the province will learn from new French First Language and Literature curriculum. Francophone cultures and perspectives are woven through all grades to help support success and understanding of the diversity of francophone communities.

The new curriculum has been developed and reviewed in partnership with members of Alberta's francophone community. Alberta Education allocated $3.5 million in the 2022-23 school year to procure and develop French curriculum resources, including a $250,000 grant to the Fédération des conseils scolaires francophones de l'Alberta to assist with reviewing and recommending French-language resources for new K-6 curriculum being implemented this school year. Alberta Education is working with francophone school authorities on additional funding opportunities for developing learning and teaching resources that would be accessible to all school authorities.

Quick facts

• In spring 2022, Alberta Education announced the creation of a French Language Services branch dedicated to working with francophone and French Immersion education stakeholders to understand and address their needs.
• In fall 2022, the francophone equivalency grant for francophone school authorities was updated and provided an additional $5 million in funding for the 2022-23 school year.
  • This increased investment means that in the 2022-23 school year, Alberta Education allocated $7 million to francophone school authorities to support francophone education in Alberta.
• Approximately 3,900 students will be learning from the new K-3 French First Language and Literature curriculum during the 2023-24 school year.
• Since 2019, Alberta's government has provided funding for nine francophone school projects.
  • 2019:
    • New K-12 school in Beaumont (Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord)
    • New elementary/junior high school in Legal (Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord)
    • Replacement of École des Quatre-Vents in Peace River (Conseil scolaire du Nord-Ouest)
  • 2021:
    • New K-6/7-12 school in south Calgary (Conseil scolaire FrancoSud)
    • Replacement of École Claudette-et-Denis-Tardif School in Sherwood Park (Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord)
  • 2023:
    • New secondary school in Airdrie (Conseil scolaire FrancoSud)
    • Project for École Michaëlle-Jean and École Gabrielle-Roy in Edmonton (Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord)
    • Gym project for École La Vérendrye in Lethbridge (Conseil scolaire FrancoSud)
    • Replacement of K-12 École Boréale in Fort McMurray (Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord)