Removing politics and ideology from Alberta classrooms

The legislation:

• updates language in the Education Act to strengthen the focus on safe, caring school environments that foster and maintain respectful and responsible behaviours
• requires school authorities’ student codes of conduct to include a statement prohibiting violence of any kind at school and during school-related activities and reinforcing students’ roles in preventing violence in schools

Amendments help classrooms encourage diverse student perspectives and help ensure that any education programming not approved or authorized under the Education Act is fair, impartial, neutral and free of personal bias.

The legislation:

• reinforces expectations in the Education Act for school authorities to uphold neutrality, impartiality and respect for students’ perspectives or ideas which comply with the code of conduct for students and students’ responsibilities
• ensures school authorities refrain from issuing statements or taking positions on political, social or ideological matters that are not relevant to fulfillment of the boards’ obligations under the Education Act
• protects employees from being required to take part in activities that conflict with their personal beliefs, except when participation is required as part of an approved course, program of study, or religious instruction under the Education Act, or for religious activities related to the operation of the school board

Further amendments to related regulations or the development of new regulations will:

• clarify expectations in the Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers and Teacher Leaders to remain objective, present balanced perspectives and support students in expressing different viewpoints
• set provincial requirements that require school authorities to display no flag other than the Canadian flag and the Alberta flag at a school, unless permitted in regulation
  • exemptions may be considered within the regulation to allow the display of flags that reflect Alberta’s heritage and history, as well as flags that reflect school culture or are displayed temporarily for school activities or ceremonies
• introduce provincial oversight for naming school buildings owned by public school divisions

Amendments will allow government to set provincial priorities to promote consistency across the province. Additional amendments will require school authorities to:

• establish and implement methods that facilitate the meaningful involvement of parents in student learning and decisions respecting non-instructional school activities
• ensure provincial curriculum, programs of study and courses are fully implemented and continuously monitored to deliver high-quality, academically challenging instruction focused on academic rigor, intellectual integrity and essential knowledge

The legislation:

• requires school board trustees who are seeking a nomination in a federal election or by-election to take an unpaid leave of absence, aligning with the requirements in the Alberta Election Act, and helping avoid potential conflicts of interest
• establishes Ministerial oversight of new or renewed employment contracts for superintendents

The legislation requires school authorities and independent Early Childhood Services operators to provide intervention supports for children and students identified with learning gaps through literacy and numeracy screening assessments, helping ensure early identification leads to early support and improved long-term outcomes.

The legislation:

• modernizes provincial assessments by completing the transition to digital administration for diploma exams and Provincial Achievement Tests
• removes the requirement for Minister approval for external parties using or providing learning and teaching resources that deal primarily and explicitly with gender identity, sexual orientation or human sexuality to provide religious instruction
• amends the Charter Schools Regulation to establish clear eligibility criteria for issuing a charter to a charter school operator on a continuing basis, with continued Ministerial oversight to address non-compliance issues and remove the need for renewals for charter schools in good standing
• allows the Minister of Education and Childcare to direct the transfer of school board real property to the Crown, enabling government to repurpose underused school buildings to meet community needs