Class sizes and tutoring: 9 things to know

A Calgary Board of Education funding shortfall of $62 million for this school year means class sizes are expected to increase — especially in high schools.

That means teachers' time and attention will be stretched even further. And the tutoring business will continue to grow.

Here are nine things to know about class sizes and the tutoring business in Calgary.

1. Alberta's classrooms are designed to fit 25 kids.

2. Alberta, B.C., Ontario and New Brunswick are the only provinces to have guidelines on class sizes.

3. According to the Alberta Commission on Learning, 80 per cent of parents surveyed think class size is important.

4. Provincial guidelines suggest the following class sizes: Junior kindergarten to Grade 3 should be 17 students, Grades 4 to 6 should be 23 students, Grades 7 to 9 should be 25 students and Grades 10 to 12 should be 27 students.

5. The average high school class size in CBE schools in 2010-2011 — the last year available — was 26.1 students. The number for the Calgary Catholic School District 25.7.

6. The Alberta Teachers' Association says CBE high school academic class sizes will expand to 38-40 students this year.

7. The tutoring business continues to grow in Calgary. Louise Ridout of EducationWise says her business is growing by 10 per cent a year.

8. The average cost of a tutor is $40 to $60 per hour, but can go higher.

9. Alberta teachers are allowed to tutor in their spare time, but not for students they teach in their regular day.