New Professional Development Funding Changes Risk Limiting Access for Alberta’s Dayhome Educators

Alberta, March 23, 2026 — Alberta’s Dayhome Support Network (ADSN) is raising concerns about upcoming changes to the Government of Alberta’s professional development (PD) funding program for early childhood educators, which take effect April 1, 2026.

The new Early Childhood Educator Workforce Supports Program will change eligibility requirements and significantly narrow the types of training that qualify for professional development funding.

While ADSN acknowledges the government’s effort to stabilize and focus the program, the organization believes the new framework may unintentionally restrict access to meaningful professional development, particularly for Level 1 and Level 2 educators and those working in family dayhome settings.

“These changes appear to go too far in the other direction,” said Danielle Bourdin, Executive Director of Alberta’s Dayhome Support Network. “We understand that the previous system had become overextended and needed adjustments to remain sustainable. However, the new criteria significantly limit the professional learning opportunities that many educators, especially dayhome providers, have relied on.”

Under the updated program, eligibility requirements will increase from a minimum of 29 hours worked in the sector to 720 hours of wage-top-up hours within the past two years, and only a limited list of workshops and conferences will qualify for funding.

For Level 1 and Level 2 educators, approved workshops will now primarily focus on Alberta’s Flight curriculum and pedagogy, and must appear on a predetermined list of approved providers for the 2026–27 year.

ADSN says this change effectively eliminates funding eligibility for many training opportunities that address the unique realities of dayhome care.

“Dayhome educators operate in a completely different environment than centre-based early childhood educators,” Bourdin said. “They run small businesses, care for mixed-age groups, and often work alone without daily peer support. Professional development that reflects these realities is essential for quality, sustainability, and educator well-being.”

ADSN has collected extensive participation data over the past several years, demonstrating a clear trend: when professional development has a cost, participation across the sector drops sharply.

“Dayhome operators are already working within tight financial constraints due to the $10/day program and the burden of agency fees,” Bourdin explained. “Regular and ongoing professional development often becomes an expense they simply cannot absorb on their own, even when they want to.”

Beyond skill-building, ADSN emphasizes that professional learning opportunities play a critical role in reducing isolation and strengthening educator retention in the sector.

“Professional development is not just about training, it’s about connection,” Bourdin said. “For many dayhome educators, these events are one of the few opportunities they have to connect with peers, share experiences, and feel part of a professional community.”

Since 2021, ADSN has offered free monthly professional development sessions for dayhome educators across Alberta. The program was created to address a gap in support and resources for private dayhome operators, who have historically been excluded from accessing professional learning opportunities within the province. 

Over time, registered dayhome providers also began to access these opportunities, reflecting a broader need for accessible, targeted support across the dayhome sector.

ADSN confirmed that it will continue to offer free monthly professional development sessions and resources to support the dayhome sector, regardless of the funding changes. 

“ADSN remains committed to ensuring that all dayhome educators across the province have access to relevant, sector-specific professional learning opportunities that work for them, offered in accessible formats and scheduled at times that fit the realities of dayhome care,” said Bourdin.

ADSN is encouraging the Government of Alberta to remain open to feedback from educators and sector stakeholders as the new program rolls out.

“We hope the government will listen closely to the voices of the educators most impacted by these changes,” Bourdin said. “Strong early learning systems depend on collaboration, and we believe there is still an opportunity to refine this program so it better reflects the needs of educators across Alberta.”

ADSN is also encouraging educators to continue investing in their professional learning and to support organizations that provide sector-specific training.

“Even if certain training is no longer eligible for funding, the learning still matters,” Bourdin said. “We encourage educators to continue seeking out meaningful professional development and to support the organizations in Alberta that are working every day to strengthen the sector.”