The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Canadian Football League rules cap starting rosters at 44 players, but there is no limit to the number of students on a class list in Alberta’s classrooms.

ATA analysis of class size data released on the government’s open data portal shows that 12 core classes in the province last year would have had more students than a starting football roster, including one Grade 2 classroom in Beaumont that had 45 students.

“Any Saskatchewan Roughrider fan can tell you that fielding ‘too many men’ could cost you the Grey Cup,” said ATA president Greg Jeffery. “But too many students in one class penalizes our students much more seriously.”

Oversized classes results in less one-on-one time with teachers, increased classroom management issues, lower academic outcomes and higher drop-out rates, says Jeffery. The impacts are particularly significant for low-income and minority children.

Jeffery says the government’s data shows that the prevalence of super-large classrooms in Alberta has grown significantly in the past 14 years, pointing to recent media stories that identify the scope of Alberta’s growing class size crisis.

The Edmonton Journal found that the proportion of classes with 40 or more students grew by nearly 600% between 2004 and 2017. CBC Calgary reported that 88% of Calgary public K–3 classrooms exceeded provincial targets for class size.

Jeffery is inviting concerned parents and all Albertans to show their support for small class sizes by signing the Pledge for Public Education at www.iBelieveinPublicEd.ca.

Jeffery, an Edmonton-area resident and long-time BC Lions’ fan, is rooting for a Calgary Stampeders win in Sunday’s Grey Cup in Edmonton.

“But when it comes to public education, I’m rooting for Alberta’s students,” says Jeffery. “I’m hoping all Albertans will join me in pulling for Alberta’s public education team!”

The Alberta Teachers’ Association, as the professional organization of teachers, promotes and advances public education, safeguards standards of professional practice and serves as the advocate for its 46,000 members.

To arrange an interview with President Jeffery, contact

Jonathan Teghtmeyer, Associate Coordinator, Communications

Cell: 780-996-4402

Backgrounder

Alberta’s 12 largest core classes in 2017–18

Source: Government of Alberta