Curriculum development

Overview

Alberta Education is in the process of renewing the 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.

This work is happening in several steps over a few years:

Step 1: Curriculum advisory panel input

August 2019 to August 2020

An independent 12-member curriculum advisory panel provided:

1. Recommendations for future curriculum direction
2. Comité Consultatif sur le Curriculum : recommandations sur l’orientation relative au curriculum
3. A draft ministerial order with updated vision for student learning that was central to public engagement
4. Final advice on the draft ministerial order based on feedback from the public engagement

Step 2: Engagement

January to February 2020

The Alberta government broadened consultations to hear a wider range of perspectives on the draft ministerial order from parents, teachers and subject matter experts. Learn more:

• Vision for student learning engagement

Step 3: New ministerial order

August 2020

The Alberta government listened to the curriculum advisory panel and Albertans to establish a new Ministerial Order on Student Learning. It sets the vision to guide education, update curriculum, and strengthen the K to 12 system:

• Ministerial Order on Student Learning
• Arrêté ministériel sur l’apprentissage des élèves

All new curriculum must be aligned with this ministerial order.

Step 4: Guiding framework update

December 2020

Curriculum is designed and developed based on a guiding framework that sets a common direction, purpose, principles and standards. With the new Ministerial Order on Student Learning in place, the framework was updated:

• The Guiding Framework for the Design and Development of Kindergarten to Grade 12 Provincial Curriculum
• Cadre directeur pour la conception et l’élaboration du curriculum provincial de la maternelle à la 12e année

Step 5: Drafting and review

Curriculum drafting happens in 4 stages:

Stage 1: Design and development

Alberta Education designs and develops new curriculum by considering:

• the Ministerial Order on Student Learning
• the guiding framework for curriculum design and development
• research and best practices from other jurisdictions
• feedback from engagements

All new provincial curriculum is developed in English and French. It emphasizes:

• the essential knowledge, civic virtues and outcomes students need to succeed in school and throughout life
• literacy and numeracy as building blocks of learning, critical thinking and problem solving
• evidence and fact-based materials
• the rich and diverse history of Alberta and Canada, including Indigenous and Francophone contributions, cultures and perspectives
• age-appropriate content related to Treaties, agreements, residential schools and their legacy

August to November 2020

Curriculum renewal started with drafting 8 subject areas for K to 6:

• English Language Arts and Literature
• Fine Arts
• French First Language and Literature
• French Immersion Language Arts and Literature
• Mathematics
• Physical Education and Wellness
• Science
• Social Studies

Stage 2: Advice from experts and Elders

August 2020 to February 2021

As K to 6 curriculum was drafted, 19 individuals provided additional advice based on their subject matter expertise and lived experience in areas such as:

• English literacy and literature
• financial literacy
• fine arts
• French language literacy and literature
• Indigenous perspectives
• mathematics
• oral communication
• science
• social studies
• wellness education

These individuals did not write curriculum. Their role was to provide advice and recommendations during the drafting step. Participation in this step does not indicate endorsement of the curriculum. The advisors could claim an honorarium of up to $400 per day for their work, which will be paid based on invoices submitted. Learn more about the advisors (PDF, 100 KB).

Stage 3: Curriculum working group input

Curriculum working group members review draft curriculum through the lens of their discipline and subject knowledge, as well as their classroom perspective. The membership has been refined to focus on engaging with certificated teachers based on grade grouping and subject expertise. Each grade grouping reflects the geographic and demographic diversity across Alberta. During the K to 12 curriculum renewal process, a representative sample of approximately 300 teachers from all types of school authorities across the province will be involved, including:

• Public
• Separate
• Francophone
• Charter
• Independent
• First Nation

November to December 2020

In early November, school authorities were invited to nominate teachers for the new curriculum working group. Nominees could be:

• new to the curriculum working group
• members from a previous curriculum working group
• participants from previous Teacher and Educator Focus Groups

Eligible nominees included Alberta certificated teachers who were employed by a school authority or independent school. They needed experience and expertise in one or more of these subject areas:

• Language Arts and Literature
• French First Language and Literature / Français langue première et littérature
• French Immersion Language Arts and Literature / Français immersion et littérature
• Mathematics
• Social Studies
• Science
• Fine Arts: Dance, Drama, Music and Art
• Physical Education and Wellness

All nominees had to demonstrate:

• a deep understanding of how students learn
• knowledge of curriculum scope and sequence
• knowledge of literacy, numeracy and competencies
• ability to communicate effectively and respectfully within a group setting in a virtual or in-person environment

Preference was given to nominees with specialized training, experience or expertise in one or more of the following:

• a subject area
• the current Alberta K to 12 programs of study
• First Nations, Métis and Inuit education
• Francophone education or French immersion

The Governments of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories were also invited to send representatives as they use the Alberta curriculum.

In December 2020, the curriculum working group met to discuss the draft K to 6 curriculum. Their role was to provide advice and recommendations during the drafting step. Participation in this step does not indicate endorsement of the curriculum. The working group’s targeted and specific feedback will help inform and refine the draft curriculum before it’s released to the public and education partners.

The K to 6 curriculum working group included 102 teachers from across the province. Download the member list:

• Curriculum Working Group Members – Kindergarten to Grade 6 (PDF, 107 KB)

Stage 4: Connecting with education partners

December 2020

Faculty of Education deans and professors from Alberta’s post-secondary institutions reviewed the draft K to 6 curriculum. Their role was to provide advice and recommendations during the drafting step. Participation in this step does not indicate endorsement of the curriculum.

There were approximately 30 deans and professors who provided input. Download the list:

• Connecting with Education Partners – Deans and Professors (PDF, 63 KB)

Spring 2021

Alberta Education will have conversations with education partners to share information and discuss the draft K to 6 curriculum. These partners include, but are not limited to:

• Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association
• Association of Independent Schools & Colleges in Alberta
• Alberta School Boards Association
• Alberta School Councils’ Association
• Alberta Teachers’ Association
• College of Alberta School Superintendents
• Council of Catholic Superintendents of Alberta
• Fédération des conseils scolaires francophones de l’Alberta
• Fédération des parents francophones de l’Alberta
• Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta
• The Association of Alberta Public Charter Schools

Step 6: Public input

March 2021 to Spring 2022

Find out how you can review the draft K to 6 curriculum and have your say.

Step 7: Piloting in classrooms

September 2021 to June 2022

The draft K to 6 curriculum is targeted to begin piloting in participating classrooms in September 2021. In spring 2021, school authorities will be invited to take part, if they choose. During this step, Alberta Education will support teachers with information and tools to work with the draft curriculum in their classrooms. School authorities will be required to provide feedback about their experience.

While piloting is underway, the draft K to 6 curriculum will continue to be available online for Albertans to give input. After the pilot ends, Alberta Education will consider the feedback from school authorities and Albertans. This input will help to refine the draft K to 6 curriculum for province-wide implementation. It will also help to identify learning opportunities and resources that school authorities and teachers need to implement new curriculum.

Step 8: Implementation

September 2022 to June 2023

All Alberta students are expected to be learning from the new K to 6 curriculum during the 2022-2023 school year.

Next steps

The anticipated curriculum renewal timelines for the next grades are:

• Grades 7 to 10:
  • Early 2021 to 2022 – Drafting
  • September 2022 to August 2023 – Piloting in classrooms
  • September 2023 to June 2024 – Implementation
• Grades 11 to 12:
  • Early 2022 to August 2023 – Drafting
  • September 2023 to August 2024 – Piloting in classrooms
  • September 2024 to June 2025 – Implementation

This page will be updated to reflect the most recent information.