Alberta's government recognizes the uncertainty that a teacher strike can bring. To help support families and students during these uncertain times, Alberta's government is rolling out additional supports.
Supplementary to these additional supports, Alberta's government is also providing a free education toolkit that parents can use to help support their child's learning while schools are closed, and funding support up to $150 a week per student to help families find childcare and education supports for their child.
Child care Subsidy
To ease the financial burden on families who require additional childcare during the strike, Alberta's government will increase October funding rates for eligible children in grades 1 to 6 who are attending out-of-school care full time.
The temporary increase in funding will come into effect after five consecutive days of a strike and apply for all of October. The rate of funding will increase to a maximum of $644 to align with the funding rates provided during summer months when children require full time care.
Distance Education
To provide continued access to learning and offer students more flexibility, Alberta's government will temporarily lift the 10-credit per year limit on distance education. This will allow students in grades 10 to 12 to keep earning credits during a strike if they are interested in doing so. Students may also enrol in distance learning with independent schools that offer this programming at any time during the strike.
Home Education
Parents may also choose to enrol their child in a home education program with a supervising independent school. If a family chooses to do so, both the family and the supervising independent school will be eligible for up to 50 per cent of the home education grant, up to $450.50 per child.
"While I am disappointed by the ATA's decision to strike, we remain focused on what matters most: our kids and their education. The additional supports we are introducing will help families who need child care, give students access to learning opportunities in their communities and offer more options for how and where they learn."
Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education and Childcare
Family Programming
To provide further opportunities for continued learning, Alberta's provincial heritage sites and museums are offering free admission for all Albertans aged 18 and under for the duration of the teachers' strike.
Sites offering free admission include:
- Frank Slide Interpretive Centre, Crowsnest Pass
- Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo Jump, Fort Macleod
- Oil Sands Discovery Centre, Fort McMurray
- Remington Carriage Museum, Cardston
- Reynolds Museum, Wetaskiwin
- Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton
- Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller
Parents and family members will still be required to pay admission fees. Guests 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Museums will also be expanding hours. Families are encouraged to visit the website of each participating museum for details on hours and programming.
"During this uncertain time, we are committed to supporting Albertan families. By offering free admission for young Albertans to our provincial museums and historic sites, we are helping parents manage disruptions while giving kids meaningful learning opportunities."
Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women
Alberta's government is also exploring ways to enhance supports for families of children with complex needs, in the event of a strike
Quick facts
- Students who choose distance education non-primary enrolment continue to be registered at their local school while earning additional credits from another school authority.
- If families choose to enrol their children in a home education program during the teacher strike, they would no longer be registered at their public, separate or francophone school.
- If they end the home education program, they are not guaranteed to return to the same school they attended prior to making the change to home education.
- School authorities are required to accept returning resident grade 1-12 students and must place them in a school within the school authority.
- Through Alberta's Parent Payment Program, eligible parents or guardians would receive $30 per day, or $150 per week, per student for the duration of labour action.
- Parents can access a free toolkit to support their child's learning during a strike.
Related information
- Parent supports during school closure
- Child care subsidy
- Child care lookup
- Historic sites, museums and archives
- Curated parent toolkit
- Online learning
- Home education
Related news
- Supporting parents and students through a strike (Sept. 30, 2025)
- Teacher negotiation update: Minister Horner (Sept. 29, 2025)
