Schools Now speeds up classroom projects
News release
November 20, 2025 Media inquiries
The program to fast-track schools has delivered significant results in its first year, kick-starting more new schools and moving projects forward faster.
In its first year, Schools Now launched 45 school projects and fast-tracked funding approvals for over 30 more projects. Some projects advanced by up to nine and a half months including Bishop McNally High School in Calgary, which moved forward by more than one year. Nine projects opened for students during the first year of the program, creating or upgrading almost 6,000 student spaces.
Since its launch in September 2024, the $8.6 billion School Construction Accelerator Program, also known as Schools Now, has shortened timelines for school projects, creating more classroom spaces for students in Alberta’s fast-growing communities.
“We recognize that the there is an urgent need for more schools across the province, and through the accelerator program, we are funding and building schools at a pace never before seen in Alberta.”
Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education and Childcare
The momentum is continuing as five more projects are being sped up, with four approved for construction funding and three of the five projects jumping forward by a total of nine months each. This latest group of accelerations includes three projects in Edmonton, one project in Calgary and one in Plamondon.
“As Alberta’s population grows, we recognize the urgent need to expand and upgrade our schools to meet the needs of our communities. Through the Schools Now program, we are investing in and accelerating the delivery of school projects. By streamlining project approvals, we’re making sure Albertans can send their children to new and modernized schools.”
Martin Long, Minister of Infrastructure
By speeding up the process of funding and building schools, the Schools Now program is bringing much-needed classroom space to communities that need it most. Combined with government investments to hire more teachers, educational assistants and support staff, the program will help ease class size pressures and complexity challenges.
“The announcement is excellent news for francophone families in Edmonton. This project broadens access to French-first language education and alleviates some of the pressure caused by the enrolment growth of the Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord.”
Etienne Alary, board chair, Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord
Quick facts
- With the five most recent accelerations, there have now been 38 accelerations of 34 school projects. Four projects have been accelerated twice.
- There are more than 120 school projects currently underway across Alberta.
- Schools Now will deliver about 200,000 new and updated student spaces by 2031-32. This includes:
- Building up to 90 new schools.
- Renovating or replacing up to 24 schools.
- Building or expanding up to 15 public charter schools.
- Completing more than 80 school projects underway at program launch.
- To address urgent pressures, 109 modular classrooms were approved in 2025-26 to create 2,725 new spaces and relocate 575 to areas of highest need.
Accelerated school projects (5) – November 2025
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| Community | School authority | Project type/name | Funding stage approval (acceleration) | Previous acceleration |
| Calgary | Conseil scolaire FrancoSud | new école publique school in north Calgary (K-6) | design to construction | n/a |
| Edmonton (3) | Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord | new high school in west Edmonton (7-12) | design to construction | September 2024 (planning to design) |
| Edmonton Public Schools (2) | Delton replacement school (K-6) | design to construction | September 2024 (planning to design) | |
| Spruce Avenue School replacement (7-9) | design to construction | September 2024 (planning to design) | ||
| Plamondon | Conseil scolaire Centre-Est | École Beausejour School modernization (K-12) | planning to design | n/a |
Schools Now/SCAP progress summary:
| Acceleration approval | Time saved on school projects | No. of school projects | Previously accelerated school projects | |
| Batch 1 | Sept. 2024 | 5 months | 11 | n/a |
| Batch 2 | Jan. 2025 | 1.5 months | 11 | n/a |
| Batch 3 | May 2025 | 9.5 months | 11 | 1 |
| Batch 4 | Oct. 2025 | 4 months | 5 | 3 |
Related information
Related news
- More classroom spaces on the way (July 30, 2025)
- Fast-tracking more school projects (May 21, 2025)
- More schools for Edmonton and area (March 19, 2025)
- More schools for Calgary and region (March 14, 2025)
- Building schools in every corner of the province (March 7, 2025)
- School construction reaches warp speed (Feb. 15, 2025)
- Fast-tracking new schools for Alberta students (Sept. 18, 2024)
Media inquiries
780-427-5010
Press Secretary, Education and Childcare