Alberta’s public education crisis didn’t appear overnight—it’s the result of bigger classes, rising complexity, and funding that hasn’t kept pace with need. Teachers have taken legal strike action as a last resort to protect learning, not to disrupt it. They are asking for practical fixes any parent can support: smaller classes, real supports for diverse learners, and stable, enforceable funding that grows with enrolment. These basics make schools truly safer and more effective. Albertans can help: learn the facts, tell your MLA to fund classrooms, and add your voice to StopTheExcuses. Together we can replace excuses with solutions and give every student the time, attention, and resources they deserve today.

A province-wide strike is a last-resort, legal action teachers take when bargaining breaks down and learning conditions aren’t being fixed. Alberta teachers say the core problems are overcrowded classes, rising classroom complexity, and a funding system that leaves students behind. The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) notes Alberta has among the largest class sizes and the fewest educators per student in Canada. Teachers want to return to class immediately—but with commitments that improve teaching and learning, not Band-Aid measures. This job action is about stable, safe classrooms and a fair agreement that actually funds students’ needs, not simply balancing the books.

Evidence from the ATA shows class sizes have ballooned and student needs have intensified. In a rapid research study, 64% of teachers reported significantly larger classes than the year before, and four in ten taught classes of 30+ students—especially in elementary and core junior-high/high-school subjects. Teachers also face complex behavioural, social-emotional, and learning supports every day, making effective instruction and individual attention harder to deliver. Polling confirms the public sees it too: class size is the top education concern for Albertans. These realities are what teachers are trying to fix—so students get time, attention, and supports that help them learn and thrive.

ATA analyses point to Alberta spending the least per student in Canada and having about 17 students per educator versus a national average near 12. That ratio counts classroom teachers, administrators, and support staff, underscoring how thinly resources are spread. At the same time, provincial surpluses have grown, yet classrooms remain overcrowded and under-resourced. Teachers argue the math doesn’t add up: population growth and complexity outpace grants, leaving divisions to stretch dollars while needs rise. The fix is straightforward—fund enrollment growth, restore class-size supports, and resource inclusion properly—so students aren’t paying the price for accounting choices.

Teachers are seeking clear, enforceable steps that improve conditions students feel every day. A recent Letter of Understanding sets a province-wide framework to address classroom complexity and student-teacher ratios—an acknowledgment that safety, support, and manageable workloads matter. ATA leadership says the fastest way to end disruption is for government to fund education properly and finalize a fair deal that stabilizes learning. That means sustainable staffing, real supports for diverse needs, and transparency on class-size/complexity targets. Teachers are ready to return—immediately—once commitments align with what parents expect: smaller classes, the right supports, and a learning environment where every student can succeed.

StopTheExcuses.ca is a public movement asking government to fund schools properly so students aren’t shortchanged. The campaign invites Albertans to learn the facts, contact their MLA, and add their names to show broad support for fixing class size and complexity. The ATA’s “Stop the Excuses” campaign keeps education issues visible and offers ways to get involved—from lawn signs to sharing teacher stories that explain what’s happening inside classrooms. If we want stable schools, we need stable funding and clear standards for safe, supported learning. Speak up, stand with teachers and families, and push for real solutions—not excuses.