Educators
General Information
Encouraging linguistic diversity
Language-Learning Provisions
Encouraging linguistic diversity
The Government of Alberta believes strongly in encouraging linguistic diversity in Alberta students. In addition to the provincially developed language programs, public, private and band-operated school authorities offer a range of language-learning opportunities to students. Many schools offer locally developed and authorized and authorized bilingual programs and language and culture courses including: Arabic, Polish and Chinese. Alberta Education continues to encourage school authorities to develop, acquire and authorize junior and senior high school language courses and programs that meet the needs of the local community.
Language-Learning Legislative Provisions
Legislative provisions allow school authorities to offer a range of language programs to Alberta students:
- Students eligible under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms must have access to Francophone education programs (section 10 of the School Act).
- Alberta Education provides language opportunities through Alternative Language Programs (section 21 of the School Act) such as provincial French immersion programs, Ukrainian and Chinese bilingual programs.
- Alberta Education currently provides provincial programs of study and support resources for the following provincial language and culture programs (section 39 of the School Act):
- 3-year course series (Blackfoot, Cree, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Spanish and Ukrainian) and a 4-course series for French
- 6-year course series (German, Spanish, Ukrainian and Italian)
- 12-year course series (Blackfoot and Cree)
- the French as a Second Language course series, available at multiple grade entry points: Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 7, Grade 9, Grade 10.
