Alberta's students back and on track
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Edmonton... Funding to reduce class sizes and an additional $303.3 million for school infrastructure projects are among a few of the highlights as students return to classrooms for the 2006/2007 school year. Notable additions include Alberta Education's new social studies curriculum for students in Grades 4 and 7 and the continuation of the Daily Physical Activity Initiative.
"Alberta Education continues its commitment to strive for excellence through a host of exciting new initiatives and programs that add value to our already quality education system," said Minister of Education, Gene Zwozdesky. "Our effort to constantly reflect on our service to students is bringing us closer to our goal of being the best education system in the world."
Alberta Education will invest almost $5.6 billion (over 1/4 of the provincial budget) in its students this fiscal year, in addition to time and energy to address issues like high school completion rates. A High School Completion Symposium is scheduled for September 24-25, 2006.
"A well-educated workforce is critical to our province's future prosperity. The symposium is a forum where stakeholders can address barriers to completion rates and develop community-based solutions," Zwozdesky added.
Alberta Education is also building on the success of a number of programs and initiatives related to bullying and student health and will boost funding to learning environments through an additional $303.3 million in new capital funding for news school, preservation and modernization projects, and about 130 modular classrooms.
"In 2006/2007, we will again improve our education system through value-added funding, programs, and resources to the benefit of our students and staffs," said Zwozdesky.
For more information on the year ahead, explore the Alberta Education Web site at www.education.gov.ab.ca where you will discover a wealth of helpful Back to School resources, including the Curriculum Handbooks for Parents.
Backgrounder
Alberta's students back and on track
What's new this school year?
New social studies curriculum for Grades 4 and 7 students
This fall, students in Grades 4 and 7 will experience a new social studies curriculum that puts an even greater focus on citizenship and identity, and has an increased concentration on Canadian and Alberta history. Last year, Alberta Education launched this new curriculum for grades K-3-the beginning of an implementation plan that will see the revised curriculum taught at every grade level by 2009.
Increasing heart health awareness
Effective September 2006, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) instruction will become mandatory as part of the Physical Education 10 program. The Advanced Coronary Treatment Foundation (ACT Foundation) began working in partnership with Alberta Education in October 2001 to help school jurisdictions implement CPR instruction in the Grade 10 Physical Education program of studies. A new resource has been developed to provide teachers with lessons and activities to increase awareness and understanding of heart health. www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/curriculum/bySubject/physed/heart.asp
Continuing Daily Physical Activity
The Daily Physical Activity (DPA) Initiative will begin its second year of implementation in September 2006. Last year, schools teaching Grades 1-9 began implementing 30 minutes of physical activity on a daily basis through activities organized by the school. To help school boards purchase incidental materials and resources that encourage students in Grades 1-9 to develop healthy lifetime habits, $1.2 million ($1,000 per K-9 school) will continue to be provided annually. A new resource has been developed to provide teachers with lessons and activities to support daily physical activity in K-9 classrooms. www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/curriculum/bysubject/dpa_handbook.asp.
Developing healthy school communities
Alberta Education and Alberta Health and Wellness are jointly developing the Healthy Alberta School Communities (HASC) Initiative to strengthen and support health-promoting school communities in Alberta. The HASC Initiative will ensure that school-aged children and youth in Alberta belong to school communities committed to promoting and enhancing health and student learning through the involvement of students, teachers, staff, families, stakeholders and government.
High School Completion-Your Future Starts Here
The high school completion symposium is being held September 24-25. We want to hear your views and encourage you to provide input to our online survey at www.education.gov.ab.ca/highschool/.
Alberta School Council Resource Manual
The new Alberta School Council Resource Manual is being distributed to all public and charter schools in the province this September. The manual provides information on the role and operation of parent school councils. It is also a support document for school council development workshops that are offered across the province.
Knowledge and Employability
As of September 2006, Knowledge and Employability (K&E) courses will replace the Integrated Occupational Program (IOP). K&E courses are intended for students who require a series of courses which will enhance their academic and occupational competencies as well as their ability to enter into employment and/or post-secondary training. IOP occupational courses will be phased out over the next two years. More information is available at www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/curriculum/bySubject/ke/.
Workplace Health and Safety
Alberta Education and Work Safe Alberta have partnered to develop new learning and teaching resources to assist teachers when workplace health and safety is covered in high school courses, in order to teach students how to work safely before they enter the workforce. These resources include teachers' notes, handouts, posters and other helpful tools on a variety of topics such as emergency response plans, hazard identification, and workplace health and safety legislation. Students will also receive a Work Safe Passport in which teachers and employers can record the health and safety training completed. These workplace health and safety education resources will be distributed to schools in November. More information is available from Work Safe Alberta.
Virtual Visit
Virtual Visit: Step inside the Alberta Legislature is an engaging, three-dimensional online experience that features customizable characters, interactive educational activities, and guided online tours. This valuable learning and teaching resource replicates the layout, scale, lighting, and finishes of the Alberta Legislature building. The project aligns with Alberta's curriculum and enhances the School-at-the-Legislature program. More educational features are expected to be added over the next year. The Virtual Visit is available in both English and French and can be accessed via the Internet.
Accountability Pillar information now available online
A new webpage, containing information on Accountability Pillar measures, as well as Q&As for parents and school jurisdictions, is now available. School jurisdiction staff and parents can learn more about how the Accountability Pillar works, and how it benefits our education system - both at a local school level, and as a whole.
