COVID-19: State of public health emergency. Mandatory measures remain in effect provincewide.
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Content on this page recently changed. Find French language Information on K-12 learning during COVID-19. A revised French translation of this page will be available soon.
Overview
Students across Alberta continue to learn during the 2020/21 school year with enhanced health and safety measures.
Information for school authorities can be found at COVID-19 guidance and health measures for K-12 schools.
Diploma exams
Diploma exams remain optional for rest of the school year. Students and their families can choose whether to write an exam or receive an exemption for the January, April, June and August 2021 exams.
Learn more about writing diploma exams this year.
Attending school safely
If a student shows symptoms
Use the following chart to find required and recommended actions to take if a student shows symptoms.
- How long to stay home from school (available in 12 other languages, updated October 29)
If a student tests positive for COVID-19, they must isolate for at least 10 days.
If a student has these symptoms | What to do |
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One of the following symptoms
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If a child has any 2 of these symptoms, or after 24 hours, their condition gets worse or they develop a second symptom:
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If symptoms develop at school
- The student will be asked to wear a non-medical mask and be isolated in a separate room or kept at least 2 metres away from others.
- Parents will be contacted to pick up the child immediately. Make sure your school has up-to-date contact information.
Cases and close contacts
Reporting update
Updated reporting for COVID-19 cases in schools took effect January 18.
Parents are notified by their child’s school when a single confirmed case and when multiple confirmed cases are identified within the school. Further supports will be initiated when there are 2 or more cases in a school.
The COVID-19 school status map shows the current status of COVID-19 in K-12 schools across Alberta. Schools with 2 or more confirmed cases will be identified on the map.
Additional resources
- 2020-21 Parent Guide (available in 10 languages)
- The 2020-21 Parent Guide contains steps parents and students should follow to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in schools.
- How long to stay home from school (available in 12 other languages, updated October 29, 2020)
- Student illness: What to do if a student has COVID-19 symptoms (updated October 29, 2020)
- Get the facts: Back to class for 2020-21
- Letter to parents from the Chief Medical Officer of Health (September 3) (PDF)
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Videos - learn safely during COVID-19
More videos are available to support safe learning during COVID-19.
Provincial assessment
Diploma exams
All 2020-21 diploma exams are optional this school year due to COVID-19.
- Students will get an exemption if they choose not to write a diploma exam.
- To receive an exemption, students need to take the course and get a current school-awarded mark.
Learn more about writing diploma exams this year.
Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs)
All 2020-21 PATs are optional this school year due to COVID-19. School authorities can choose to participate. Schools can offer PATs in the following subjects:
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- French Language Arts/Français
How we got here
School authorities planned for 3 scenarios for the 2020/21 school year. Alberta schools welcomed students under scenario 1.
- Scenario 1 – In-school classes resume, near-normal operations with health measures
- COVID-19 information: Guidance for schools on re-entry scenario 1 (Updated January 2021)
- Scenario 2 – In-school classes partially resume with additional health measures
- COVID-19 information: Guidance for schools on re-entry scenario 2 (Updated August 20)
- Scenario 3 – At home learning continues, in-school classes are cancelled
We will make the decision in consultation with the chief or local medical officer of heath if a certain school or school authority would need to move to scenario 2 or 3 during the school year. In a situation in which students choose to learn from home, there are several education options to support this.