Foundational Learning Assistance (Alberta)

Foundational Learning Assistance (Alberta) is sponsored by Government of Alberta. This financial assistance program offers funding to unemployed or underemployed Albertans enrolled in foundational learning and skills development programs.

Foundational Learning Assistance | Alberta. ca Funding for academic upgrading and adult learning Foundational Learning Assistance Foundational Learning Assistance is a student financial assistance program that provides opportunities for unemployed or underemployed Albertans to prepare for further education or develop skills for in-demand jobs within the labour market.

Specifically, these programs can help you: increase your English language skills complete academic upgrading and/or adult basic education for post-secondary pre-requisites gain in-demand skills to find employment Foundational Learning Assistance can include a monthly financial award, calculated based on household financial need, to help you pay for: educational costs such as tuition, mandatory fees, student association fees, and books and supplies living costs such as food, clothing, personal needs, transportation, rent/mortgage and utility expenses While some exceptional medical costs may be considered for students, health benefits are not covered as part of Foundational Learning Assistance.

If you need health benefits, learn more and apply at Alberta Adult Health Benefit . For more detailed program information and policies, refer to the Foundational Learning Assistance Policy Manual . To be eligible for Foundational Learning Assistance, you must be enrolled in an approved program.

Approved programs are offered by more than 40 educational institutions in Alberta, including public post-secondary institutions, private career colleges, First Nations colleges, and non-profit organizations. You can contact educational institutions directly to determine whether a program you are interested in offers approved Foundational Learning Assistance programming.

The following types of foundational learning or skills development programs may be approved. See the policy manual for details. Table 1.

Approved programs and purpose Program Purpose Academic upgrading Learning at a grade 10 to 12 educational level, to help you: pursue post-secondary study Adult Basic Education Training in: literacy and numeracy (grades 1 to 6) adult basic education (grades 7 to 9) English as an Additional Language Training for those whose first language is other than English.

*You may also be eligible for federal funding under Language for Newcomers to Canada (LINC). If you are interested in English as an Additional Language, apply for LINC first.

Integrated Foundational Pathways Supportive and interactive learning that blends: applied skills development Transitional Vocational Programs If you have a diagnosed developmental disability, these programs provide training that: increases your chances of getting a job helps you be more independent Pre-Apprenticeship Programs Training to develop the necessary academic competencies and help you meet the minimum entrance requirements for apprenticeship education: work experience placements For program designation guidelines for educational institutions, refer to the: Foundational Learning and Skills Development Program Designation Guidelines Please note: the Foundational Learning Assistance program has a capped budget and is not currently accepting applications from new educational institutions.

Citizenship and Immigration Status a permanent resident according to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Government of Canada) a Protected person according to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Government of Canada) who is legally entitled to work and study in Canada You must have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN). You must be 18 years of age when your program starts.

An exception to this criterion can be waived for individuals as young as 16. See the policy manual for details. have an established Alberta address reside in Alberta for the duration of the program of study Students residing in border communities are considered residents of the province/territory to which their home postal code belongs.

Full-time students must be unemployed or working fewer than 20 hours per week to be eligible for Foundational Learning Assistance. If you are working more than 20 hours a week, you may be eligible to receive Foundational Learning Assistance for part-time studies. If you are receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, you can apply for and receive Foundational Learning Assistance until your claim ends.

If you are receiving EI Special Benefits, you are not eligible for Foundational Learning Assistance. If you are working more than 20 hours a week and want to leave your job to attend training, you can apply for Foundational Learning Assistance. A Client Service Specialist will contact you to discuss your situation and potential eligibility.

If the specialist approves a Counsel to Leave Employment, your application for Foundational Learning Assistance will be processed, and you may be eligible for Employment Insurance. You can be funded to attend full-time training for a lifetime maximum of 50 months. Step 1.

Get accepted into an approved program. Step 2. Ask your educational institution to confirm your enrolment in the Student Management System.

High schools and outreach schools that do not have access to the system, complete the High School Program Approval Foundational Learning Assistance form Step 3. Check your email. When you are able to apply, you will get an email with a link to the application.

Step 4. Submit your application up to 12 weeks before your training starts. Processing will be delayed if your application is incorrect or incomplete.

You must have the following to access the online application: a verified Alberta. ca Account – If you do not have an Alberta. ca Account, you have to create one to access the online application.

The process can take up to 10 days. an Alberta Student Number – Look up your Alberta Student Number, or if you do not have one, request an Alberta Student Number at Learner Registry . Ensure that you do not create a new Alberta Student Number if you are a returning Foundational Learning Assistance student.

Students must use the same Alberta Student Number that has been issued to them to prevent application processing delays. your Social Insurance Number (SIN). You must answer all the questions yourself, as you will be signing the legal declaration.

If you have a spouse or partner who is also receiving Foundational Learning Assistance, you will need their Alberta Student Number. If an application is not completed within 30 days, it will be cancelled, and you will have to start again. Fillable PDF forms may not open properly on some mobile devices and web browsers.

See the step-by-step guide or contact PDF form technical support .

Once your application is processed, you will be advised of: the amount of money you may get or the reason(s) you will not get funding when you can expect to receive funding your right to request a review of the decision If education costs were included in your assessment: books and supply costs will be included in your first living allowance payment for each semester tuition and fees will be paid directly to your educational institution When you are receiving Foundational Learning Assistance, you must report any changes that occur as soon as they happen.

Call the Foundational Learning and Skills Development Contact Centre when there is a change to your: attendance status (for example, changing from full time to part time or withdrawing) spouse or partner’s income any allowable costs, including child care Foundational Learning Assistance is taxable income. You will receive a tax slip in February to include in your tax filing for the previous year.

If you need help with your taxes, contact the Canada Revenue Agency . After you complete your program Foundational Learning Assistance is intended to support the labour market. The primary measure of success of approved programs of study is that students can achieve further education or employment.

To support the assessment of these outcomes, students will receive a link to a short, 5-minute survey by email 90 days after they complete a program of study. If you receive funding through the Foundational Learning Assistance program, you are expected to complete this survey to help determine these program outcomes and improve future program development.

The answers you provide through the survey will have no impact on any of your past or future funding applications but will significantly support the overall Foundational Learning Assistance program. Funding for academic upgrading and adult learning