Classroom complexity teams coming to Alberta junior and high schools

The Alberta government is rolling out complexity teams to Grade 7 to 12 classrooms throughout the province. The units, made up of one teacher and one assistant, will help with a variety of supports. (File)

The Alberta government is spending more money on its classrooms to make sure all students get the support they need.

Alberta Education is investing $100 million to hire more teachers, educational assistants and specialized support staff to form 211 new complexity teams for the province’s school system.

Of that number, 158 will be allocated to Grade 7 to 12 classrooms while 63 will be provided for kindergarten to Grade 6 students.

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Officials say the new investment builds on the province’s previous commitment to help Alberta students through the creation of 476 complexity teams in the province.

“Every student deserves a safe, supportive classroom and every teacher deserves the tools to succeed. This money will strengthen supports, improve safety and ensure teachers have the resources to manage increasingly complex classrooms,” said Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides in a news release.

K-6 complexity teams typically include one teacher and two educational assistants and are focused on providing additional, hands-on classroom support.

The Grades 7 to 12 complexity teams, consisting of one teacher and one assistant, will be able to provide more support for students with complex needs.

Those teams will also have access to behavioural specialists, social workers and other specialists. They’ll also be trained in the latest techniques in preventing, de-escalating and responding to behavioural challenges in students.

The Alberta government says all public, separate and francophone school division will receive at least one complexity team.

There is no information on where the rest of the teams will go, but authorities will be able to direct those teams to where “needs are greatest,” officials said.