ASCA AGM 2023

Update: We are pleased to announce that this proposed Advocacy Resolution passed at the 2023 ASCA AGM as presented with unanimous consent! Thank you to Chair Meagan Parisian for writing the resolution and presenting it in person, as well as acting as our voting representative for the AGM. 

P23-02

Supporting Integrated Education Funding

Sponsor: École Barrie Wilson School Council

Contact: Meagan Parisian ebwscouncil@gmail.com

Issue:

The burden of schools to support the whole child, and not just provide education by way of curriculum delivery, continues to grow. As we become more aware of the developmental needs of children, the wrap-around supports and services required to accomplish this successful development and student achievement have become inherently integrated into the school system. As a result, funding for education delivery continues to be strained and further diminished; this could be rectified by fully funding student supports by coordinating with the associated ministries responsible for mental health, social and children’s services, Indigenous relations, etc.

Background:

Funding for Supports and Services and Community is already an integrated part of Alberta Education’s funding model (grant application) categories; including Specialized Learning Support, pre-kindergarten Per Unit Funding (PUF), English Second Language (ESL), First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, socioeconomic status, nutrition, etc.

The Supports and Services category is “intended to support specialized learning needs or groups of students who may require additional supports from school  authorities”; 1 The Community category is “designed to address socio-economic contexts and geographic locations which pose unique challenges to the operation of schools and delivery of educational services.”

Resources:

https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/8f3b4972-4c47-4009-a090-5b470e68d633/resource/e7865589-6774-4ba8-89b5-a61ca2f36843/download/edc-funding-manual-2022-2023-school-year.pdf

Recommendation:

That Alberta School Councils’ Association advocate to the Minister of Education for a collaborative funding model with other Ministries, including but not limited to Health, Children’s Services, Community and Social Services, and Indigenous Relations, to share the burden of funding integrated services in Alberta’s schools; including but not limited to community liaison workers (CLW), counseling services, mental health services, and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit education.