EDMONTON — Licensed preschool operators across Alberta are sounding the alarm after a preliminary survey by the Association of Canadian Early Learning Programs (ACE) found many programs expect to close if the province’s current child care funding arrangement remains unchanged.
Funding skewed toward full‑time daycares, owners say
Preschool operators say the provincial child care affordability grant is effectively funneling families toward full‑time daycare programs by offering funding that makes daycares cheaper for parents. Those shifts in demand are squeezing smaller, part‑time preschools that traditionally provided early learning options for communities, particularly in rural and smaller urban centres.
In a preliminary survey released by ACE, a majority of responding preschool operators reported declining enrolment and said they anticipate having to close their programs before or during the upcoming school year. The survey results are not presented as a comprehensive census of all preschool operators in the province but were described by ACE as an urgent warning about the sector’s future.
“I feel frustrated. I feel really saddened for the communities that rely on these preschool programs. … A lot of us have spent decades building these programs for our communities, investing our savings and time to make sure that families have access to a preschool option for care.”
The comment came from Krystal Churcher, a Fort McMurray preschool owner and chair of ACE, who said the current grant structure favours daycare operators that provide full‑day care and can therefore access funding at the federal cap designed to lower parental fees.
How the funding plays out
Under the current model, funding tied to the federal affordability framework can reduce parent fees to a target of $15 per day for eligible daycare services. ACE and preschool operators argue that because the funding calculations are geared toward full‑time care, part‑time licensed preschools are less able to compete on price — even though they provide a distinct early learning model that many communities rely on.
Operators told ACE that the difference in parental out‑of‑pocket cost between full‑time daycare and part‑time preschool is driving families toward the lower‑fee full‑time option, feeding a cycle of declining enrolment and rising financial stress for preschool providers.
| Funding element | Figure |
|---|---|
| Target parent fee under federal cap | $15/day |
| Estimated monthly total listed in ACE summary | $326.25/month |
Local consequences and community loss
Preschools are not simply cheaper alternatives; many are community institutions run by local educators, operated on non‑profit or small private models, and tailored to the schedules and needs of families. Owners like Churcher say they have invested years — and personal savings — to create these programs. The potential closures would reduce options for parents who prefer part‑time, curriculum‑focused early learning over full‑day child care.
Small communities are particularly vulnerable because they have fewer provider choices. The loss of a single preschool in a town can push families to travel farther for care, disrupt routines for young children, and remove a stepping stone that prepares children for kindergarten.
What advocates want
ACE is urging provincial policymakers to revisit how the child care affordability grant is structured so that licensed preschools receive funding that reflects their operational model and role in communities. Operators want adjustments that would make part‑time preschool financially viable and competitive with full‑time daycare fees.
- Preschool operators want targeted funding for part‑time programs.
- They seek transparency and data on how grants are allocated and their effects on different service models.
- Advocates call for consultations with rural and small‑town providers whose voices they say have not been adequately heard.
Policy crossroads
The situation puts Alberta’s government in a familiar policy bind: balancing near‑term affordability for parents with sustaining a diverse mix of early childhood services. Provincial officials have previously highlighted affordability outcomes as a priority under federal–provincial agreements; advocates say those goals must be met without hollowing out key parts of the preschool sector.
For now, preschool owners are preparing for the possibility of closures, and parents in affected communities may soon face fewer choices for early learning. ACE’s preliminary survey provides a snapshot of those pressures; whether the province alters its funding approach will determine if the trend accelerates into widespread service loss come fall.
— Reporting by an Alberta correspondent for WE NEWS.
