Brian Mason and Alberta's NDP want to use our wealth to build strong, healthy public schools. Liberals and Conservatives voted for tax cuts to profitable corporations at the same time schools were laying off staff. Both parties accept donations from large corporations - the same organizations pushing for private ownership of school buildings.

Liberals and Conservatives voted for tax cuts to big oil companies and other large corporations rather than properly fund education.

While the Liberals and Conservatives voted for tax cuts for their political supporters, the neglect of Alberta's education system has created problems:

• The lack of appropriate funding has led to class sizes larger than recommended by the Alberta Commission on Learning
• In 2005, 28 of Alberta's 62 school boards (43%) ran a deficit
• In 2005, school boards charged families a total of $40 million in fees for teaching resources.
• There is a significant backlog of work to be done in building repair and maintenance.
• The financial position of school boards has weakened due to funding formulas that don't cover salary increases.
• School districts are being forced into considering lease arrangements (public, private partnerships) for new buildings, even though these arrangements were rejected in other provinces for costing more and providing less public control.

Brian Mason and Alberta's NDP are on the side of students, parents, and educational staff who want to improve education.

Alberta's NDP would:

• Implement Learning Commission recommendations by imposing caps on class sizes.
• Ensure schools have the necessary support staff - including teacher librarians and counselors, teacher aides, and clerical and maintenance staff.
• Fund full-day kindergarten and half-day junior kindergarten for vulnerable children and all children whose parents choose this option. Improve opportunities for special needs students - provide adequate funding for fulltime aides.
• Make high school completion a priority by providing students with the support they need to stay in school and reach their educational potential.
• Eliminate fees and fundraising for learning essentials, like computers.
• Phase out funding for private schools and bring charter schools under the jurisdiction of school boards.
• Provide healthy and nutritious breakfast and lunch programs where needed.
• Make sure parents of 6 - 12 year olds have access to affordable after-school care where they need it.

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