Alberta’s Kindergarten to Grade 12Education System

with Waldemar Riemer

This presentation will:

Provide you with an overview of Alberta’s Education system

Roles and responsibilities within Alberta’s Education system

$6.3 billion (Cdn) budget 596,113 students 45,427 certificated teaching personnel

62 jurisdictions over 2,100 schools

2010-11 Government Spending$38.7 billion

Alberta Education Vision

Education inspires

and enables

students

to achieve success and

fulfillment as citizens

in a changing world

Alberta Education Mission

Every student has access to educational opportunities needed to develop competencies required to

contribute to an enriched society and a sustainable economy

The success of each student is our highest priority

Students can access a quality basic education regardless of where in Alberta they live.

Provincial policies allow parents and students to choose their schools and programs.

Education programs are appropriate to the unique needs of each child.

The delivery of education programs to students should be flexible.

Alberta has built a strong education foundation

Standardized curriculum for all grades and subject areas.

Ongoing review of curriculum to ensure it is current and focuses on what students need to know.

Carefully selected and developed resources for learners and support materials for teachers.

Alberta’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education System

We have standardized our curriculum for all grades and subject areas to make sure every Alberta student has the same learning opportunities.

Provincial Achievement Testing

Grade 3: reading, writing and mathematics

Grade 6 and 9 PAT’s: reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies

Grade 12 students write Diploma Examinations in core subject areas. These exams make up 50% of a student’s final mark.

Structure of Education in Alberta

Students

Businesses

Community

62 School

jurisdictions

Parents

Teachers

Ministry

School Councils’

Association

School Board Associations

College of Superintendents

Delegation of Responsibility for Education

• Through the School Act, the Government of Alberta delegates much of its authority for the governance of education to school boards, which are elected by local community members.

• School boards are responsible to make decisions about education programs that will meet the needs of their students.

Balancing Provincial and Local Autonomy

Alberta Education

establish and communicate learning expectations/standards

develop Programs of Study (curriculum)

conduct provincial assessments

develop and implement an accountable education system

School Board ensure that education programs

provided are consistent with the School Act and provincial regulations

implement the Programs of Study

provide optional programs in response to local needs

establish clear measures of student achievement

implement systems for evaluating students, teachers, schools and programs

Three Fully-funded School Systems

Public School Districts and Divisions

Separate School Districts (that primarily serve children of parents of the Roman Catholic faith.)

Both systems serve English and French speaking students

Francophone

Role of the Superintendent

• Implement education policies established by the Minister

• Ensure students have the opportunities to meet the standards of education set by the Minister

• Provide leadership in all matters relating to education in the jurisdiction

• The Superintendent shall report to the Minister with respect to the above matters at least once a year

The role of the principal

To provide educational leadership and administer the school in consultation with central office staff, teachers, parents, the school council and the community.

Highly skilled professional teachers play a key role

Alberta was the first in Canada to develop Teaching Quality Standard that outlines the knowledge, skills and attributes teachers are expected to demonstrate throughout their careers

Teachers must hold a university degree which includes a teacher preparation program

The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA)

As set out in the Teaching Profession Act, the objectives of The Alberta Teachers' Association are as follows:

to advance and promote the cause of education in Alberta

to improve the teaching profession

For further information, please visit the Alberta Education website:

http://www.education.alberta.ca/