November 17, 2020

Provincially-funded versus publicly-funded schools: what’s the difference, and why does it matter?

Public schools in Alberta have a rich, enduring history.

Before Alberta was a province, the first public school was established in 1881 in what was known at the time as the Hamlet of Edmonton.

According to the City of Edmonton archives, newly-arriving families in Edmonton “desperately needed” a “regular educational option”, as there wasn’t one conveniently located to serve the children of the area. At a public meeting, a new school system was envisioned and a board of trustees was elected. These trustees established the foundation of what is today Edmonton Public Schools.

From early days in Alberta, public schools were envisioned as the place where a free school was established. Education would be universally available to all students, and the cost of their education would be borne by the local community, through their taxes.

Public schools – and the public school system – have evolved substantially in Alberta over the past 140 years, but the foundational principles remain: a publicly-accessible system, available to all students, and paid for by the taxes of the local community. Within each public school jurisdiction, all students are welcome without question. In that inclusive environment various programs of choice are offered to meet the many diverse needs and wants of our students.

Public schools weren’t and aren’t the only type of K-12 education in Alberta. From early days, there have also been other schools and school systems, including faith-based, and today in Alberta, we have a significant amount of choice. Public schools don’t turn away students based on religious affiliation, ability, language spoken, their culture or where in the province they live.

So the word “public” is a very specific term of reference that is synonymous with schools that are free, open and accessible to all. Therefore, those of us who are school board trustees in the public school system today are very concerned about the trend in recent months to call all schools and various school systems “public”. They aren’t. They are, however, publicly or provincially-funded.

We prefer the term “provincially-funded” because it’s a clear and truthful reference to the fact that all schools and school systems – public, separate, francophone, charter, private and home school – are funded by provincial taxpayer dollars that are distributed by the Alberta government. We believe that any other term creates confusion as to what is truly “public”, which is the public school system – first and only, and not any other.

The Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta is truly committed to Students First, and to advancing the cause of public education in Alberta: free, open and accessible to all – as it was when it was first created back in the early 1880s and even more so today in 2020.

Let us know what you think.

Cathy Hogg,
President