Labour action updates
We value our teachers and the hard work and dedication they put in to ensure student success. We will update this page to keep parents informed as we get new information.
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What's happening now?
Return to work
On October 27, 2025, the province tabled back to school legislation, which ends the labour action. The legislation passed on October 28, 2025.
All teachers will return to their classrooms on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.
How the bargaining process works
In Alberta, teacher bargaining is handled provincially through the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA), which is a corporation created by the Public Education Collective Bargaining Act.
TEBA represents school boards and the Government of Alberta in collective bargaining for all of Alberta’s public, separate, and Francophone teachers. Edmonton Public Schools is not directly involved in these negotiations.
What does this mean for families?
Returning to school
Date of return: Teachers, principals and students return to regular classes on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.
Fall break: We are proceeding with fall break as it’s part of our collective agreement. We also acknowledge that many families have already made arrangements for that time.
Learning outcomes: The Superintendent outlined the Division's approach to supporting learning for the rest of the school year in a letter to parents.
Yellow bus: Busing will be ready for all yellow bus riders, starting Wednesday, October 29. Students should go to their regular bus stop at the regular time for pickup.
- Families who paid for the October pass will not be charged a fee for November.
- Students can use their October pass to the end of November.
Edmonton Transit Service (ETS): School specials will also be ready for all Edmonton Transit riders, starting Wednesday, October 29. Students are encouraged to check the city’s website for bus times.
School fees: If you paid a fee for a service that was not received during the job action, your school will credit the student account to offset future fees for the 2025–2026 school year.
- Fees may include lunch supervision fees, field trips, option course fees, etc.
- If you paid for multiple months (i.e. November, December, etc.), the fee paid for October will be carried forward and applied to other outstanding fees for the 2025–2026 school year.
- If you paid a fee for a service that was available and could be used (i.e. ARC cards) then no refund or credit will be provided.
- If you would like a refund for fees paid where no service was provided, please contact your school.
- Due to the time it takes to issue credits and refunds, they will be applied or issued starting the week of November 10. Credits, once processed, will be reflected on the student account in SchoolZone under the Fees tab.
If you have any questions about your personal circumstances, please reach out to your child’s school.
Government supports
On September 30, the provincial government announced a number of supports for families during the labour action.
Parent payment program
The Alberta Education and Childcare parent payment program is open for the duration of the labour disruption. It will remain open for several weeks after the labour disruption ends.
To sign up, parents must have their child’s Alberta Student Number (ASN). This 9-digit number can be found on SchoolZone next to your child’s name in the top menu area.
If you cannot find the number, please contact your child’s school directly.
Additional support for children with disabilities
The province also announced that families who have an active agreement with Family Support for Children with Disabilities qualify for an additional $30/day for children 12 and under and $60/day for children 13-17 years old.
Provincial achievement tests and diploma exams
January Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) and diploma exams
The province announced that with the instructional time disrupted due to the teacher strike, the January 2026 diploma examinations and January Grade 9 PATs have been cancelled.
Grade 12 students will receive their school-awarded mark as their final course mark. A note will be added to student transcripts confirming that no diploma exam was written, ensuring there is no impact on students’ ability to graduate or transition into post-secondary programs.
October and November diploma exams
The province announced that October/November diploma exams are optional.
If you have paid a rewrite fee and your child will no longer be taking the October and November diploma exam(s), please email exam.admin@gov.ab.ca to request a refund.
What happens if students choose not to take the exam(s)?
Students who do not write the October and November diploma exams can still complete their courses and graduate on time. Their final grade will be based entirely on the school-awarded mark provided by their teacher.
Choosing not to write the October and November diploma exams will not affect a student’s ability to apply to, be accepted by or attend post-secondary institutions after graduation.
Letters from the Superintendent
Letters from the government
Timeline
The ATA and TEBA are negotiating a new collective agreement for the province's teachers. The previous contract expired in August 2024. Edmonton Public Schools is not directly involved in these negotiations.
October 29, 2025
- Classes resume in all Edmonton Public Schools.
October 28, 2025
- Return-to-work legislation passes in the legislature.
October 27, 2025
- Provincial government tables return-to-work legislation.
October 6, 2025
- Teachers commence a full strike and classes are paused for all students.
September 29, 2025
- The ATA announces teachers have rejected the latest offer.
- The ATA indicates that teachers will be on strike starting October 6.
September 24, 2025
- The ATA and TEBA reach a tentative agreement.
- While a Memorandum of agreement has been reached, the ATA’s strike notice remains in effect until the ratification process is complete.
- Teachers must vote on the agreement from September 27 to September 29.
September 10, 2025
- The ATA announces a strike will begin on October 6 if an agreement has not been reached by then.
- ATA has indicated they will serve official strike notice on September 12.
June 5 to 8, 2025
- Teachers take a strike vote. The results are in favour of going on strike.
- The ATA has 120 days to serve strike notice.
