Student Enrolment Funding

This page will provide information on how BGSD students are funded by Alberta Education and Childcare and provide information on the enrolment count date.

Definition of a Student

Alberta Education and Childcare defines a student as:

An individual who meets conditions 1, 2, 3 and 4, unless 5 or 6 applies:

1. Is attending a school in Grades 1 to 12 on the September count date of the current school year;
2. Is at an age as of September 1 in the school year in which he/she is counted, as follows:
   1. at least 5 years, 8 months, of age and is eligible to enter Grade 1 according to the school entrance age policy of the school authority that enrolls the student, but less than 20 years old; or
   2. 6 years but less than 7 years of age and who has a mild, moderate or severe disability/delay and requires another year of ECS.
3. Is a Canadian citizen on the September count date; or
   1. is lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence; or
   2. is lawfully admitted to Canada and a child of a Canadian citizen; or
   3. is lawfully admitted to Canada and a child of an individual who is lawfully admitted to Canada as a permanent or temporary resident; or
   4. is a step-child (who has been issued a study permit) of a temporary foreign worker that is in Canada on a work permit; and who is the biological or adopted child of the temporary foreign worker's spouse or partner; or
   5. is a step-child of a Canadian citizen and is the biological or adopted child of the Canadian citizen’s non-Canadian spouse or partner. The following documentation is required:
      1. proof of application for permanent resident status and fee payment to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC); or
      2. valid study permit for the student.
4. Is a resident of Alberta and has a parent who ordinarily resides in Alberta on the September count date; or
   1. is an independent student who is between 16 years of age and less than 18 years of age who resides in Alberta and has a parent that resides in Canada; or
   2. is an independent student who is between 18 years of age and less than 20 years of age and who resides in Alberta.
5. For funding purposes, a First Nations student who resides on a reserve is not counted toward AEM enrolment.
6. For funding purposes, a home education/shared responsibility student is not counted toward AEM enrolment.

Funded Students

Alberta Education and Childcare considers three criteria when determining the funded status for those children who meet the definition of student.

• Citizenship: the student must be legally entitled to attend school in Canada
• Residency: The student must reside in Alberta and have a parent/guardian who ordinarily resides in Alberta
• Attendance: The student must be in physical attendance at a BGSD school on the September count date

Please see the document below for a summary of these three categories:

Funded Students and Enrolment Count Deadlines

The September Count Date

Alberta Education and Childcare has a specified date that school authorities must take an enrolment count of their students for the calculation of enrolment. This enrolment date will be done on the last instructional day of September.

The submission date for this count is the third instructional day after the September count date. Enrolment data must be updated regularly and verified before this date.

The September count date for 2026/2027 is September 29, 2026.