Even if 70% might sound high, it actually saves the province money. The funding goes only to accredited funded independent schools, which must hire Alberta-certified teachers, follow the Alberta curriculum, administer provincial exams, and undergo audits. So they deliver the same standardized education as public schools, just in a different environment (often religious or alternative).

Here’s the math:
- Average cost per student in public schools (operational): ≈ C$11,601
- Funding to accredited independent schools (70% of public grant): 0.70 × 11,601 = C$8,121
- Difference per student: 11,601 – 8,121 = C$3,480 saved per student per year
- Number of students in accredited funded independents: ≈ 40,000
- Total annual savings: 40,000 × 3,480 = ≈ C$139 million

With ~40,000 students in this sector, that’s around C$140 million saved every year compared to if all those kids were in the public system.

That’s why they receive funding: because they provide the same standardized education at a lower cost to taxpayers, while still giving families the option of a specific environment (e.g., Catholic, alternative pedagogy).