The province is cutting this year's education budget by $80 million as Alberta struggles with an overwhelming $6.9 billion budget deficit.

Education Minister Dave Hancock made the announcement Thursday in a conference with Alberta's 62 school boards.

"I think what we're asking from school boards is $56 million dollars but it's well manageable within that operating surplus," said Hancock.

He said the amount won't be more than 11 per cent of any board's surplus.

Hancock will meet with stakeholders including the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) and the School Boards Association starting in the second week of September.

"We have to look at new ways of doing things to lessen the impact to get through this financial turbulence that we're facing right now in Alberta," said Debbie Engel, chairperson for Edmonton Catholic Schools.

The minister refused to comment on the possibility of jobs cuts or increases to classroom sizes.

"We don't anticipate great changes in those areas but certainly we're going to have to tighten our belts and look to where we can save some dollars," said Edmonton Public Schools Chair Bev Esslinger.

But the news isn't sitting well with one teacher. Carol Henderson, the president of the ATA said she worked as an elementary school teacher in the province when former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein made substantial cuts to the education budgets.

"Every time we turned around the principal was asking us to do just a little bit more with just a little bit less," she said.

Hancock also told school boards to brace for significant budget cuts next year as the province looks to trim $2 billion from its deficit.

With files from CTV's Susan Amerongen and the Canadian Press