Overview
Alberta Education develops Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K to 12) curriculum, also called programs of study. The provincial curriculum defines what students are expected to know, understand and do in each subject and grade. School authorities and teachers determine how students achieve the learning outcomes in the curriculum. They use their professional judgment to select appropriate resources and supports for their students and schools.
We appointed a Curriculum Advisory Panel in August 2019 to provide independent advice and recommendations on a vision for student learning and future K to 12 curriculum.
Curriculum development process
Provincial curriculum is developed and implemented in 3 steps:
Step 1. Drafting
We start the process by drafting new curriculum. Curriculum working groups review and validate the curriculum we draft. These groups are organized by subject with balanced membership based on geographic and demographic diversity. They include:
- teachers
- subject matter experts
- First Nations, Métis and Inuit representation
- academics
The working groups consider:
- the Ministerial Order on Student Learning / Arrêté Ministérial Sur L’Apprentissage Des Élèves , which outlines the vision, essential values, learning foundations and outcomes
- The Guiding Framework for the Design and Development of Kindergarten to Grade 12 Provincial Curriculum (2020 update in progress), which sets a common direction, purpose, principles and standards for new curriculum design and development
- research and best practices from other jurisdictions
- feedback from previous curriculum engagements
Step 2. Classroom validation and engagement
Once the drafting step is complete, a number of schools across the province pilot the draft curriculum through a classroom validation process.
We post the drafts on new.LearnAlberta.ca during this process for Albertans to provide input.
Step 3. Implementation
After classroom validation and engagement are complete, the draft curriculum is revised if needed.
The current programs of study remain in effect until the Minister of Education approves draft curriculum for province-wide implementation.
Next steps
During the 2020-21 school year, we will establish curriculum working groups. Together, we will review the 2018 draft K to 4 curriculum and draft future curriculum for the next grades. It will include 6 subject areas:
- Language Arts (English, Français, French)
- Mathematics
- Social Studies
- Sciences
- Arts
- Wellness Education
In September 2021, we will move to step 2. Classroom validation will expand from K to 4 to include Grades 5 and 6. This means participating schools will pilot the draft curriculum for K to 6 during the 2021/22 school year.
We expect to implement new K to 6 curriculum across the province by the 2022-23 school year. Draft curriculum for Grades 7 to 10 will also be ready for classroom validation that year.