Alberta’s government is rolling out new School Critical Emergency Standards that will create clear, consistent guidelines for how school boards handle emergency situations. The standards will require school boards to create emergency management frameworks that address the full emergency management cycle: prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
Requirements include emergency planning, threat and hazard identification, standard response protocols, staff training, communication, drills and exercises, supports for affected individuals and post-incident reviews.
“Families need to know that schools are prepared to respond when an emergency happens. These new standards provide clear, consistent expectations across Alberta while giving school authorities the flexibility to address the unique needs and risks of their communities.”
The new standards build on important safety work already underway in Alberta schools. A recent provincial review found that most school authorities have core safety practices in place, while also identifying areas where there may be gaps.
School boards will develop emergency management frameworks that meet provincial requirements, while individual schools will develop plans that align with their school board framework and reflect the hazards, needs and circumstances of their local communities.
“The safety and security of children while they are at school is our absolute top priority. While the vast majority of our schools have strong core safety practices in place, a recent provincial review highlighted inconsistencies and gaps across the province. That is why we are introducing the new School Critical Emergency Standards, backed by our $22-million investment in safer schools. These clear, consistent provincial expectations will ensure that every school board, school and Early Childhood Service operator is fully prepared to prevent, respond to and recover from critical emergencies – giving parents the peace of mind they deserve.”
Supporting guidelines will provide practical, adaptable information to help school authorities and schools implement the standards. These resources will include information on roles and responsibilities, drill and exercise options, example response protocols and considerations for developing emergency management plans. The guidelines provide guidance on communication with students, families, staff and school communities.
“The Calgary Police Service recognizes the tremendous work school boards, administrators and school staff are already doing every day to ensure safe learning environments for students and employees. These new standards build on the already strong foundation by providing a consistent framework for emergency preparedness and response across the province. We support the collaborative approach to school safety and remain committed to working alongside our education partners to help ensure schools are prepared, resilient and a safe place for learning.”
“Establishing clear, consistent provincial standards is an important step in strengthening emergency preparedness across Alberta’s schools. These standards provide school boards with a common framework while recognizing the unique needs of individual school communities. By strengthening prevention, preparedness, response and recovery, we can help ensure our schools are better equipped to respond when emergencies occur and support students, staff and families.”
The new standards build on Alberta’s broader investments in school safety. In April, Alberta provided a one-time $22-million investment to support safer schools, including $20 million to upgrade school security infrastructure and $2 million for safety-related training for school staff.
Together, these measures are helping schools strengthen preparedness, respond effectively when emergencies occur and support students, staff and families through recovery.
Quick facts
- All school boards must establish a framework by Jan. 4, 2027.
- Every school must have a School Critical Emergency Plan that aligns with its school authority’s framework by April 5, 2027.
- For the purposes of critical emergency standards, Early Childhood Service operators will also need to establish both a Critical Emergency Framework and Critical Emergency Plan by Jan. 4, 2027, and April 5, 2027, respectively.
- The standards were informed by existing school authority practices, research and approaches in other jurisdictions, and feedback from education, health and emergency management stakeholders.
Related information
Related news
- Investing in safer schools (April 9, 2026)