No child is ever denied access to an education in the CBE because of an inability to pay. If you can't afford the fees, there are several ways to qualify for a central fee waiver.
Waiver applications for the current school year are found online through your MyCBE account and are available from the start of the school year until June 30.
What is Covered
Approved applications will have the following fees, if applicable, waived for the school year:
- Transportation
- Lunch supervision
- Student supplies
- Musical instrument rental
What is Not Covered
School-based fees are not covered by the waiver. This includes items such as:
- Course fees
- Activities
- Field trips
- Goods/services
If you are approved for a central fee waiver, school-based fees will still be shown in your account. Please contact your school directly for questions regarding school fees.
Eligible Applicants
All families are welcome to apply for a central fee waiver.
Note: the CBE aligns with federal and provincial guidelines when assessing waiver applications. Citizenship is taken into consideration in our waiver assessment.
When to Apply
Waiver applications for the current school year are available from late August through your MyCBE account.
The application deadline is June 30 of the applicable school year. Applications submitted after the deadline may not be approved.
A new fee waiver application form must be completed for each school year.
Note: all supporting documents must be valid within one year of the school calendar year.
Types of Waivers
Documents must be valid within one year of the school calendar year.*
Low-Income with Proof of Government Support
A family is approved for one of the following programs:
- City of Calgary Fair Entry program
- Alberta Child Health Benefit
- Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH)
- Provincial Income Support
Supporting Documents
One of the following:
- City of Calgary Fair Entry letter
- Child Health Benefit letter and card
- Social Services benefit card or verification letter
*In accordance with federal and provincial guidelines, additional information may be requested to support the waiver application.
Low-Income Due to Sudden Loss of Income
Family income falls below the Statistics Canada Low Income Cut-Off Guidelines due to job loss, illness, or full-time studies.
Supporting Documents
- Current Notice of Assessment for all adults
- Proof of income loss (e.g., Employment Insurance statement, disability benefits, pay stubs, etc.)
Convention Refugee or Refugee Claimants
Families who are Convention Refugees or Refugee Claimants.
Note: Documents older than one year require reapplication under a different category.
Supporting Documents
- Refugee Protection Claimant document
- Notice of Decision letter
Death of a Parent/Legal Guardian or Student
A family has experienced the death of a parent/legal guardian or student within 12 months of the school year.
Supporting Documents
- Documentation related to the loss
Family Emergency
A family has experienced a traumatic life event such as natural disaster or serious illness/injury.
Supporting Documents
- Notice of Assessment for all adults, and
- Evidence of catastrophic event (police report, doctor’s note, insurance claim, court order, eviction notice, etc.)
Shelter / Social Services Protection
Family resides in a shelter or is under social services protection.
Supporting Documents
- Letter from recognized shelter or social services organization
How to Apply
Below are the steps to follow to apply for a fee waiver.
Registration for all services must still be completed by submitting the required online forms.
Review Waiver Categories
Collect the required supporting documents, photocopies are accepted.
Apply Online
Submit your application through MyCBE and upload all required supporting documents.
Applications will not be reviewed unless all required documentation is provided.
General Information
- Central Fee Waivers are approved on an annual basis and apply only to the current school year.
- One application per student must be submitted through MyCBE with all required documents.
- Submission does not guarantee approval.
- If denied or incomplete, school fees remain the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
Processing Time
- Processing takes 8–16 weeks to process.
- If no response after 12 weeks, contact feewaiver@cbe.ab.ca.
- Students may still use bus transportation and lunch supervision during review.
- To allow sufficient time to process your application, please apply as soon as possible. The final deadline for application is June 30 of the applicable school year.
Checking Your Application
- Log into MyCBE → Student Fees & Service Registrations → Paid tab.
- The adjusted fee will appear once processed.
Important Requirements
- You must still register separately for bus transportation and lunch supervision (if applicable).
- Legal guardians must be listed in school records.
- Applications may require follow-up by email or phone.
Communication
- You will be notified by email and through MyCBE.
- If no email is on file, a letter will be sent by Canada Post.
- Review eligibility criteria and documents before applying.
Low Income Cut-Off Guidelines
Size of Family | Total Income (before tax) |
2 | $38,922 |
3 | $47,851 |
4 | $58,096 |
5 | $65,892 |
6 | $74,315 |
7 or more persons | $82,739 |
Note: CBE follows the Statistics Canada Low Income Cut-Off guideline to determine waiver eligibility.
Paying Fees
CBE provides parents and guardians with several options for paying school fees.
Flexible Payment OptionsLunch Supervision Manual
Lunch supervision offers a safe, caring, and respectful supervised environment for students over the lunch period.
View ManualContact
Last modified: 2026-08-10 17:19:09.870712 +0000 UTC