Education Policy
Alberta Party policy for Education is listed below:
Curriculum Policy
The Alberta government will initiate a curriculum review and revision process for the Alberta Education curriculum on a continual basis; and develop a new Alberta education curriculum on a continual basis within ten years of the rollout of a curriculum in use; and the provincial government oversight be done by multi-partisan leadership through a standing committee of the Legislative Assembly.
- The Alberta Party would ensure that teachers, First Nations, Metis, Inuit educational partners, relevant industry leaders and future employers, and a wide sample of parental and student input is provided at every step of the process, and with ongoing evaluation of the current curriculum to identify strengths and challenges.
- Teachers and subject matter experts will be included in working groups that will review the curriculum at multiple writing stages, so the document remains true to its intended outcomes.
- When the curriculum documents are ready, a pilot will be undertaken by a sufficient sample size to accurately review it. The curriculum documents will be finalized with teachers and provide the proper front matter to guide teachers in delivery and assessment
- The curriculum development process will be protected from government overreach and focused on educational best practices.
[2022 AGM]
Funding Our Schools
An Alberta Party government would end mandatory school fees, making schools more accessible for all Albertans, and reducing the administrative burden on school staff.
An Alberta Party government would provide sustainable, consistent, adequate funding for our schools, with annual increases that are proportionate to population growth plus inflation. Funding must be stable to allow for long-term planning.
[2015 AGM]
Education Infrastructure
An Alberta Party would ensure building decisions for new schools are not politically driven, and would fund new schools according to enrollment numbers.
An Alberta Party government would encourage the sharing of resources, such as busing, between overlapping school districts to reduce duplication of services.
[2015 AGM]
Building a Child-Centered Society
The Alberta Party will:
- Establish a task force with early education specialists to develop:
- An evidence-based Early Childhood Education curriculum to be followed by qualified Early Childhood Education Centres (Preschools, Playschools, Early Kindergarten, etc.)
- Criteria and standards for Early Childhood Education Centers to follow to be considered qualified.
[2022 AGM]
Investing in quality childcare
An Alberta Party Government would:
- Invest in accessible, high quality, cost-effective child-care spaces that address early childhood education needs.
- Provide funding on an income-tested basis to improve access to childcare.
- Assess the increasing need for before and after school care and invest in improving access.
[2018 AGM]
Support Special Needs Students
An Alberta Party Government would increase supports for students with special needs with additional appropriately trained staff and funding.
An Alberta Party government would provide targeted funding for educational assistants to increase the human supports for students with special needs.
[2015-2016 AGM]
Supporting our Post-Secondary Institutions and Students
An Alberta Party Government would:
- Ensure stable and predictable operational funding to post-secondary institutions on a multi-year basis
- Legislate a cap to limit tuition increases for both domestic and international students to Alberta’s CPI
- Advocate that the Government of Canada increase the income threshold for recent graduates to begin repaying their student loans
- Commit to providing ongoing funds for student mental health supports
[2018 AGM]