Message from the Deputy Minister of Education
All changes to Alberta Education requirements contained in this document are effective September 1, 2023.
The Guide to Education: ECS to Grade 12 should be read in conjunction with the Education Act and associated regulations, and the Funding Manual for School Authorities.
Original approved by Lora Pillipow, Deputy Minister of Education, August 23, 2023.
Introduction
The education of our students is fundamental to shaping a preferred provincial, national and global future. It is also essential in maintaining Alberta’s standard of living and ensuring our global competitiveness. Our education system must simultaneously prepare students to be responsible citizens while equipping them with the foundational knowledge and skills they need to lead meaningful, fulfilling lives and to succeed in a changing economy.
Alberta Education’s business plan describes directions that will help our young people get the education they need. The outcomes, key objectives and performance measures in the plan reflect Alberta Education’s leadership role in developing programs for students, setting standards for education, communicating these expectations to our stakeholders and supporting improvements to meet student needs.
Schools have the responsibility to provide instructional programs that ensure students meet the provincial high school completion requirements and will be prepared for entry into the workplace or post‑secondary studies. As well, schools are to ensure that students understand the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and have the skills and virtues to pursue learning throughout their lives.
The Guide is developed by Alberta Education for the use of administrators, counsellors, teachers and other parties engaged in the delivery of quality education. It is consistent with the objectives and underlying principles of the Education Act, and contains key requirements and other information for the implementation of education programming and the operation of schools.
Purposes of the Guide
The Guide serves the following purposes:
- to support Alberta Education’s objective of providing consistent direction while encouraging flexibility and discretion at the local level
- to provide information about ECS to Grade 12 programs, education delivery and achievement standards for students enrolled in Alberta schools
- to communicate information useful in organizing and operating Alberta schools to meet the needs of children/students
- to serve as the key policy repository for the ministry
In school, students should be encouraged to challenge themselves at new levels and in new experiences, as well as to prepare themselves for future choices in their lives and in their communities. The Program Foundations section of the Guide describes Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) education in Alberta and outlines the learning outcomes for students and schools. A focus on students is integral to all school programming and reflects the emphasis of the Education Act.
Definitions
The terms “board” and “school” in this document are in accordance with the definitions used in the Education Act. In the Guide, the term “school jurisdiction” refers to an Alberta public or separate school division, francophone regional authority, or public charter school. The term “school authority” includes school jurisdictions, accredited funded private schools and private early childhood services (ECS) operators.
The subjects in the new Kindergarten to Grade 6 (K-6) curriculum are referred to as “curriculum”, not “programs of study”. To continue to align with the Education Act, “programs of study” is retained in all instances, but in instances that encompass newly implemented subjects and grades, “/curriculum” is added.
Document availability
The French version of the Guide to Education: ECS to Grade 12, entitled Guide de l’éducation: Préscolaire à 12e année, is also available.
Current versions of the complete statutes and regulations are on the King's Printer website.
Provincial Approach to Student Information (PASI)
The Provincial Approach to Student Information (PASI) is a strategic, multi-faceted system, including business processes, information systems and technologies, to support a collaborative enterprise for education that allows schools, school authorities and the ministry to share student information in real-time. PASI provides the right information to the right people at the right time, supporting schools and school authorities with student information as students move from school to school and transition from grade to grade and teacher to teacher.
Alberta Student Number (ASN)
Alberta Education assigns every student a unique 9-digit Alberta Student Number (ASN). The ASN is required for students to receive services from Alberta Education.
It is the responsibility of each school to ensure that students are aware of their ASN. To assist in this awareness it is recommended that a student’s ASN be incorporated into any official documentation produced by a school or school authority, and be included in the official student record. Some examples of official documentation include student identification cards, report cards and progress reports.
myPass
myPass is an Alberta Education self-service website for students to
- order high school transcripts in English or French
- view diploma examination marks
- register to write or rewrite diploma examinations with online payment
- view and print Detailed Academic Reports (DAR)
- view progress toward a credential (diploma or certificate)
- order additional copies of an awarded credential in English or French
- receive notifications for important messages
Visit myPass for more information.
LearnAlberta.ca
LearnAlberta.ca is a learning and teaching resource repository that helps support Alberta's programs of study developed prior to 2021.
new.LearnAlberta.ca
new.LearnAlberta.ca is a bilingual platform that provides access to new digital curriculum and related information to support Alberta Education's partners, teachers and parents.
Identification of content changes
A Summary of Key Changes, which identifies significant updates since the previous edition of the Guide, is posted on Alberta.ca. However, readers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Guide in its entirety.