Students in Alberta will be back in classrooms come September as the province announced the back-to-school plan during the July 21st COVID-19 update. 

Premier Jason Kenney said the risk is not completely gone, but that officials have "calculated the risk" and have determined their measures to be implemented will be enough to keep kids safe as they re-enter classrooms in September. 

Schools will be ready to welcome students under "Scenario 1, which is near-normal daily operations with health measures."

Alberta’s government has developed a re-entry tool kit to prepare parents and students for what to expect in the new school year.

The tool kit includes videos for students explaining some of the health measures, a guide for parents, frequently asked questions, school posters, a self-screening questionnaire in multiple languages, and links to health guidelines.

Education Minister Adriana LaGrange  said, "I know that many parents and children will be happy to go back to near-normal school routine, and this is evident as the Premier indicated in the Alberta School Council Association Survey - 86 per cent of families said they want their children back in school."

That survey was completed when case numbers were lower, but the Government is confident that the public health measures, enhanced sanitization, smaller cohort groups and other measures will help mitigate the risks of COVID-19 in classrooms this fall. 

"I want to stress that we are determined to do everything we can possibly do to safely return students to class, however, we will continue to adjust protocols as required on the advice on our Chief Meedical Officer of Health and in consultation with the education system," LaGrange said. 

LaGrange said they recently announced an additional $250 million in accelerated capital funding for schools. She said some school boards used some of that funding to implement things like hands-free soap and sinks in bathrooms, automatic doors and other COVID-19 related prevention tools. 

LaGrange said that schools have now had their full funding re-instated as of July 1st and "every school authority in Alberta is receiving a funding increase for the upcoming school year."

School boards are also able to access reserve funding as well, which totals about $363 million across the province. 

Other changes include:

  • four-semester structures for some high schools
  • diploma exams being offered in November, January, April and June 
  • parents, students and school staff self-screening every day
  • cohort groups to reduce the exposure between students 

If a student is showing symptoms at school, parents will be asked to pick up their child immediately and the student will be asked to wear a mask if able to do so safely. 

Zone medical officers across the province will work with school authorities to identify cases, identify close contacts and create isolation measures if needed. 

All of these details and more can be found at alberta.ca/k-to-12-school-re-entry page.