Expanding training program for educational assistants

Alberta’s government is expanding its Educational Assistant Internship Program this spring to increase access to trained support staff in classrooms and help school divisions address ongoing staffing pressures.

The province said March 24 the program will be available to more school authorities in 2026, building on an investment of more than $2 million since 2023 that has supported over 1,280 educational assistants.

Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said educational assistants play a key role in supporting both students and teachers as classroom needs grow more complex.

The internship program combines online learning with in-class experience, along with mentoring, coaching and access to a professional community. School divisions can adapt the program to meet local needs.

The initiative is designed to strengthen skills and provide foundational training for assistants working with diverse student needs, while also helping school boards recruit and retain staff.

Saadiq Sumar said the program has become an important recruitment tool for Edmonton Public Schools, noting that 98 per cent of interns who complete the program stay on with the division.

New training modules introduced this year will focus on areas such as learning disabilities, augmented and alternative communication, and medical management awareness. The additions reflect recommendations from the Aggression and Complexity in Schools Action Team.

Since its launch in 2023, more than 850 new and existing educational assistants have completed the program. It expanded from 14 school authorities in 2024 to 23 in 2025, with about 400 assistants expected to participate in spring 2026.

The province said the program’s continued expansion aims to improve classroom supports while strengthening the overall education workforce.