Association of Independent Schools and Colleges in Alberta

About School Choice in Alberta

When it comes to selecting a school, parents and students can choose from a wide range of options. They can select from public schools, Catholic schools, Francophone schools, private schools, and charter schools. They can also access a number of unique and innovative programs - including home education, online/virtual schools, outreach programs and alternative programs. Parents can also opt to home school their children.

Choice is one of the important principles Alberta's education system is built on. Learn more about the following school options:

Public and Separate Schools
In Canada, provinces are required to provide free education up to the end of high school for all citizens and permanent residents under the age of 20. In Alberta, this universally accessible education is provided through public schools, which are operated by public school boards, and overseen by the Government of Alberta.

Alberta’s public schools teach the Alberta curriculum and may select optional programs as required to meet the unique needs of their students and communities.

Francophone Schools
Under the law, parents whose first language is French have a constitutional right to have their child educated in French where there are enough students to warrant it. They also have the right to govern these schools themselves. There are a number of francophone regional authorities operating schools in Alberta.

Private Schools
Parents may choose to educate their children outside the public education system, within the private school system. Private schools may charge tuition and other fees as required. There are two kinds of private schools in the province.

Accredited Private Schools

* must follow the Alberta Program of Studies
* must employ certified teachers
* Students can earn credits towards an Alberta graduation diploma
* monitored by Alberta Education
* may receive provincial general revenue if operated by a non-profit society or corporation
* Accredited non-profit private schools receive the same funding for severe special needs children as public schools

Registered Private Schools

* Do not have to offer the Alberta Program of Studies
* Do not have to employ certified teachers
* Students cannot earn credits towards an Alberta graduation diploma
* monitored by Alberta Education
* not funded by the Government of Alberta

Designated Special Education Private Schools

Parents of students identified as having special needs can choose to send their child to one of the province’s designated special education private schools.

Charter Schools

Charter schools are autonomous non-profit public schools designed to provide innovative or enhanced education programs that improve the acquisition of student skills, attitudes and knowledge in some measurable way. Charter schools have characteristics that set them apart from other public schools in meeting the needs of a particular group of students through a specific program or teaching/learning approach while following Alberta Education's Program of Studies.

Home Education / Blended Programs
Parents who choose to educate their children at home assume primary responsibility for delivering and supervising their child's courses of study and work as partners with a school board or accredited private school to ensure the child's educational goals are being met. In Alberta, all children 6 years old or older must attend school until they turn 16. A publicly elected school board has the responsibility to serve all students whose parents reside within the board's boundaries, including those students whose parents choose home education.

Parents have the responsibility to notify a school board or an accredited private school of their intent to home educate their children. This can be the local school board or any other willing board. Parents choosing home education have the primary responsibility for managing, delivering and supervising their children's courses of study.

The school authority which accepts the parents’ notification is called the associate school authority. It has the responsibility to provide the parents with support, if asked. Together with the parents, the associate school authority must ensure that the child meets the parents’ educational goals.

Online (Virtual) Programs
An Online program is a program offered by a school that is delivered electronically at a school site or off-campus, under the instruction and complete supervision of a certificated teacher of a board or accredited private school. For information about Online and Virtual school programs visit the Alberta Online Consortia website.

Outreach Programs
An Outreach program provides an educational alternative for students who, due to individual circumstances, find that the traditional school setting does not meet their needs. The Outreach Programs Handbook is a resource to help school jurisdictions (administrators, teachers, trustees), parents and community members understand the expectations and practices related to Outreach Programs.

Alternative Programs (Section 21, School Act)
An "alternative program" means an education program that (a) emphasizes a particular language, culture, religion or subject-matter, or (b) uses a particular teaching philosophy, but that is not (c) a special education program, (d) a program referred to in section 5, or (e) a program of religious education offered by a separate school board.

Alberta Education http://education.gov.ab.ca