During the current teachers’ strike, families with children requiring specialized care will receive additional financial assistance, as announced by the province on Friday. Alberta’s government disclosed that families with children under Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) agreements, attending schools impacted by the strike, could receive up to $300 per five-day school week.
Eligible families with active FSCD agreements will qualify for daily payments of $30 for children aged 12 and below, and $60 for those aged 13 and above, based on school days. This financial aid supplements the existing parent payment program, offering $30 per school day for children under 12, totaling $60 per school day.
To access this support, parents can apply through the online parent portal starting on October 14. The province clarified that the funds for these benefits are redirected from teacher salaries that will not be disbursed during the strike.
Keltie Marshall, co-founder of Hold My Hand Alberta, a group supporting children with disabilities and their families, expressed gratitude for the financial relief but noted that it falls short of meeting the actual expenses. Gillian Holloway, a parent from Fort McMurray with twins under active FSCD agreements, acknowledged the $60 per day as a positive step but highlighted that it does not cover their daily child-care costs, which amount to $280 per child per full eight-hour day.
While Holloway appreciates the assistance provided, she emphasized that the allocated amount does not significantly alleviate the financial burden of child care expenses for her twins.
