How we got here

Alberta Education designed and developed new K to 6 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

The provincial curriculum is developed in English and French. The K to 6 curriculum renewal started with drafting 8 subject areas:

• 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

The draft K to 6 curriculum 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

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 did not indicate endorsement of the curriculum. The advisors could claim an honorarium of up to $400 per day for their work, which was paid based on invoices submitted. Learn more about the Advisors on Draft Curriculum (PDF, 100 KB).

Curriculum working group members reviewed draft curriculum through the lens of their discipline and subject knowledge, as well as their classroom perspective. Membership was refined to focus on engaging with certificated teachers based on grade grouping and subject expertise.

A representative sample of approximately 300 teachers from all types of school authorities across the province were involved in curriculum renewal, including:

• Public
• Separate
• Francophone
• Charter
• Independent
• First Nations

The governments of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories were also invited to nominate representatives for the K to 6 and grades 7 to 10 groups.

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

The K to 6 curriculum working group included approximately 100 teachers from across the province. Download the member list:

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

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 did not indicate endorsement of the curriculum.

There were approximately 30 deans and professors who were invited to provide input. Download the list:

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

The draft K to 6 curriculum was publicly released on March 29, 2021 online for review. Since then, Albertans have provided feedback many ways:

• online survey from March 2021 until February 2022
• virtual sessions hosted by Alberta Education staff between May 2021 and February 2022
• nearly 600 participants shared diverse viewpoints on each subject area and the draft social studies design blueprint during virtual engagement sessions in January and February 2022

Review the feedback reports and stay informed about the draft K to 6 curriculum review process.

In June 2021, Alberta Education began having 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 and 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

Curriculum Engagement Grants

Alberta Education provided approximately $800,000 in grants to support partner groups in conducting consistent and coordinated engagements with their communities so their unique perspectives could be heard.

Grants were provided to 12 organizations:

• Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association
• Alberta School Boards Association
• Association of Alberta Public Charter Schools
• Association of Independent Schools and Colleges of Alberta
• Blackfoot Confederacy
• College of Alberta School Superintendents
• Confederacy of Treaty Six
• Council of Catholic School Superintendents
• Fédération des conseils scolaires francophones de l’Alberta
• Metis Settlements General Council
• Stoney Nakoda – Tsuut’ina Tribal Council
• Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc.

The grant recipients’ input is being used to update draft K to 6 content, along with feedback from classroom piloting and other engagement activities.

Review their feedback reports and stay informed about the draft K to 6 curriculum review process.

In January 2022, Alberta Education established an advisory group of education and curriculum implementation experts to provide advice and recommendations on the implementation strategy and timelines for a new K to 6 curriculum. This Curriculum Implementation Advisory Group:

• helped determine how new curriculums for English language arts and literature, mathematics and physical education and wellness will be successfully implemented in September 2022
• identified potential supports for the 3 subjects above and options for providing the supports to school authorities
• provided advice on the continuation of piloting the remaining K to 6 subjects beginning in September 2022 and provided strategies for implementing these subjects beginning in September 2023

Curriculum Implementation Advisory Group Terms of Reference (PDF, 141 KB)

The group had balanced representation from across the education system to help ensure the best interests of students, parents and teachers inform the group’s advice and recommendations. Membership included individuals from Alberta Education and partner organizations who:

• are directly accountable for curriculum implementation
• have extensive qualifications, expertise and experience working within the education system

Curriculum Implementation Advisory Group members included:

• Marilyn Dennis, president, Alberta School Boards Association
• Representative, Alberta School Boards Association
• Wilco Tymensen, president, College of Alberta School Superintendents
• Bevan Daverne, past-president, College of Alberta School Superintendents
• David Keohane, executive director, College of Alberta School Superintendents
• Michael McMann, superintendent, Fort Vermilion School Division
• Robert Lessard, superintendent, Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord
• Teacher representative, piloting elementary school
• Teacher representative, piloting elementary school
• Teacher representative, elementary school
• Principal representative, Calgary Board of Education
• Curriculum expert, Edmonton Public Schools
• Andre Tremblay, deputy minister, Alberta Education (chair)
• Jennifer Cassidy, assistant deputy minister, Curriculum Division
• Executive director, Early and Middle Years Curriculum
• Executive director, Curriculum Coordination and Implementation
• Executive director, Learning and Teaching Resources

In April 2021, school authorities were invited to pilot the draft K to 6 curriculum in classrooms, if they chose. They had the flexibility to choose to work with one or more, or all subjects.

In June 2021, Alberta Education delivered an orientation session to begin preparing participating teachers and administrators for the piloting process. These teachers also took part in one of the 3-day Summer Learning Institutes Alberta Education offered in June, July and August. During these sessions, Alberta Education answered questions and helped teachers understand how to work with the draft K to 6 curriculum in the classroom.

Between September 2021 and February 2022, approximately 360 teachers piloted draft K to 6 content in elementary classrooms with about 7,800 students. These teachers helped determine how the draft curriculum transfers to the classroom by considering 6 areas:

• strengths and opportunities in content
• learning scope
• age appropriateness
• learning sequencing
• perspectives on the content load
• supports school authorities will need to prepare for provincial implementation

During the pilot, Alberta Education supported teachers with information and tools to work with the draft in their classrooms. In 2020-21, there was $6 million set aside as follows:

• $4 million for access to learning and teaching resources aligned with the draft curriculum to support instruction
• $2 million for professional learning supports and substitute teacher costs while piloting teachers are learning; this funding includes $1,500 for each piloting teacher to buy instructional materials and classroom supplies to enhance the student learning experience

In addition, Alberta Education offered sessions each month to meet piloting teachers’ needs and address any questions. Teachers also shared feedback on the draft curriculum and their classroom experience at these sessions.

Throughout the pilot, school authorities and teachers provided valuable insights that helped to refine the draft K to 6 curriculum.

Alberta Education is updating all K to 6 subjects for implementation in phases, which started in the 2022-23 school year. The content is being updated by considering:

• all feedback from classroom piloting and engagement activities between March 2021 and February 2023
• alignment with top-performing jurisdictions, both within Canada and internationally, as well as those with knowledge-rich curriculums

The K to 6 subjects are being revised and released as follows:

• final English language arts and literature, mathematics and physical education and wellness curriculums in April 2022
• final science, French first language and literature, and French immersion language arts and literature curriculums in March 2023
• updated draft fine arts curriculum, which includes music, visual arts, dance and drama, will be available in the future
• revised draft K to 6 social studies curriculum will also be available at a later date

In September 2022, the new K to 3 English language arts and literature, K to 3 mathematics and K to 6 physical education and wellness curriculums were implemented in classrooms across Alberta. School authorities also had the option to implement the final grades 4 to 6 mathematics and English language arts and literature curriculums.

During the 2022-23 school year, school authorities had the option to pilot the updated draft K to 6 French first language and literature, French immersion language arts and literature, and science curriculums. A total of 47 school authorities from metro, urban and rural areas – including a diverse range of public, separate, public charter, independent and francophone schools – chose to participate in classroom piloting.

The updated draft K to 6 fine arts curriculum, which includes music, visual arts, dance and drama, will be available in the future for further engagement, including classroom piloting.

The revised draft K to 6 social studies curriculum will also be made available at a later date for further engagement with Albertans and education stakeholders. Opportunities for classroom piloting will follow this engagement.

In the 2023-24 school year, $47 million is being invested in teacher professional learning and learning and teaching resources to make sure teachers and students are equipped for new K to 6 curriculum in classrooms.

Alberta Education is providing teachers across the province with the following supports and resources on new.LearnAlberta.ca so they can continue preparing for the upcoming school year:

• the final K to 6 French first language and literature, French immersion language arts and literature, and science curriculums
• the Provincial Resource Review Guide with guidelines for selecting learning and teaching resources aligned to the new curriculums
• bridging resources to assist with transitioning from the current curriculums to the new curriculums
• videos and support documents with an overview and orientation to the new curriculums
• planning tools such as sample lesson plans
• boards – a tool that allows for teacher planning, collaboration and sharing
• information about flexible professional learning opportunities