Alberta Education has recently posted a series of videos taken of Q & A sessions around various aspects of the Education Act. The first of these, Boards Engaging Partners, runs just over 30 minutes and covers a range of topics including:
-Charter Schools (implications of not being granted natural person powers)
-Parental Engagement in their child's education and school/school system (re: opportunities for greater parental engagement but is qualified by "where appropriate." Who will decide when or where it is appropriate to engage parents in child's education, in the school or the workings of the school system?) starts at 1:57
-FOIP Act (challenges re: exchanging information)
-Natural Person Powers for Boards (restrictions on finance/borrowing, allowing for flexibility/innovation)
-Education Act (where we are in the process)
-Safe, Caring and Respectful Learning Environments (bullying/cyberbullying and other behaviours, clarifying the Principals/Schools ability to reach beyond the school and the tools available to address these issues) starts at 20:57
Friday, June 3, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Education Act 2011: Let's Keep the Conversation Going
Bill 18: Education Act 2011
Back in November 2010, CAPSC hosted Rakhi Pancholi, a Legislative Consultant with Alberta Education, who spoke about the proposed framework for the new Education Act. Parents had an engaging session with the Alberta Education representative and she did a great job fielding questions and eliciting feedback. After the meeting, parents were able to continue the conversation online with Alberta Education.
Since then, the Education Act was introduced to the Legislature as Bill 18. In a press release coinciding with its introduction, the Hon. Dave Hancock stated , “The proposed legislation will underpin the transformation of the education system to reflect expectations for high school completion, online and other flexible learning environments and a wide range of supports to students.”
Before the spring session ended, the legislation had two readings but did not pass into law. The Education Minister hoped to engage the public further before final passage. Unfortunately, the delivery of the Alberta Government’s 2011/2012 budget in February and its impact on schools has tended to overshadow the conversation around this critical piece of legislation. Legislation that will move the transformation of our education system forward and keep Alberta leading edge. This province and its citizens cannot afford to fall behind other jurisdictions nationally and internationally in a fast paced, global economy.
It is also important that as parents we should get familiar with the proposed Education Act. We need to ask questions and provide feedback on its various provisions because it will directly and/or indirectly affect us and our children. For example, what does the Education Act have to say about school fees, transportation, cyber bullying, roles and responsibilities of parents and students, raising the legal age for leaving school, and expanding funded access up to the age of 21? Alberta Education has provided a great resource for the public on its “What’s New” webpage. Another starting point is a brochure highlighting various aspects of the legislation.
From there you can move to the “Engage” homepage or check out more specific links under Student Success, Community Engagement and Local Decision-Making, Governance and General. You can also check out the video "Education Act" on youtube.
Keep the conversation going - let us know if there is any aspect of or topic related to this issue you would like to see addressed at our fall meetings and drop us a line at info@capsc.ca.
Back in November 2010, CAPSC hosted Rakhi Pancholi, a Legislative Consultant with Alberta Education, who spoke about the proposed framework for the new Education Act. Parents had an engaging session with the Alberta Education representative and she did a great job fielding questions and eliciting feedback. After the meeting, parents were able to continue the conversation online with Alberta Education.
Since then, the Education Act was introduced to the Legislature as Bill 18. In a press release coinciding with its introduction, the Hon. Dave Hancock stated , “The proposed legislation will underpin the transformation of the education system to reflect expectations for high school completion, online and other flexible learning environments and a wide range of supports to students.”
Before the spring session ended, the legislation had two readings but did not pass into law. The Education Minister hoped to engage the public further before final passage. Unfortunately, the delivery of the Alberta Government’s 2011/2012 budget in February and its impact on schools has tended to overshadow the conversation around this critical piece of legislation. Legislation that will move the transformation of our education system forward and keep Alberta leading edge. This province and its citizens cannot afford to fall behind other jurisdictions nationally and internationally in a fast paced, global economy.
It is also important that as parents we should get familiar with the proposed Education Act. We need to ask questions and provide feedback on its various provisions because it will directly and/or indirectly affect us and our children. For example, what does the Education Act have to say about school fees, transportation, cyber bullying, roles and responsibilities of parents and students, raising the legal age for leaving school, and expanding funded access up to the age of 21? Alberta Education has provided a great resource for the public on its “What’s New” webpage. Another starting point is a brochure highlighting various aspects of the legislation.
From there you can move to the “Engage” homepage or check out more specific links under Student Success, Community Engagement and Local Decision-Making, Governance and General. You can also check out the video "Education Act" on youtube.
Keep the conversation going - let us know if there is any aspect of or topic related to this issue you would like to see addressed at our fall meetings and drop us a line at info@capsc.ca.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
More parents reaching out...
A group of parents predominantly from student council but growing ( and please join our group) will be walking over to Mr. Chase's office on Tuesday, June 7, 2011,at 2;40, where he has graciously agreed to meet with us and our children. Mr. Chase is a former teacher and strong advocate for education in Alberta. We will leave Varsity immediately after school ends to present our letters and let the children take part in our actions.He is located in the office building across from 7-11 on Valliant Drive This is a parent driven activity. It is not affiliated with the school. .
I am including a draft of our letter to our MLA, Harry Chase but please feel free to alter it in any way. Emailing letters directly to your MLA is terrific, but I would also request that a signed copy of this or a similar letter make it's way back to the school.
Please pass this letter on to all of your contacts we are happy to involve as many families as possible. I am more than happy to take any suggestions on how to make a stronger impact.
Thank you
Tara Ramsey
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Media coverage of Premier Stelmach's comments about teachers' contract and layoffs
Edmonton Journal article "Teacher contract demands will force layoffs, premier says"
Calgary Herald article "Layoffs due to contract: Premier"
CBC News article "Hancock has different take on teacher talks"
Calgary Herald article "Layoffs due to contract: Premier"
CBC News article "Hancock has different take on teacher talks"
Letter to MLA from a concerned parent
To MLA
From Parent
It is with a sense of despair that I have been learning how the Provincial government's education budget for 2011-12 will impact virtually every school board in Alberta. I am a parent of 2 children in the public education system, and I attended the Rally in Support of Education Funding on May 7th in Calgary. There were several speakers who had travelled from other parts of the province to inform us that every Board was facing deep staff cuts. It is clear these claims from the Boards are universal and cannot be blamed on individual Board mismanagement.
The education system has made such progress since the implementation of the Learning Commission's recommendations to reduce class sizes, but now the government seems to be willing to destroy all the gains that have been made. These are my deep concerns:-
1. We will lose many fine teachers from the province forever and some may leave the teaching profession altogether.
2. The money the government saves now will need to be spent many times over in the future educating new teachers to replace the ones we will lose.
3. We will lose many students from the public sector to the private sector. I know personally several students who made this move in order to get the smaller class sizes that private schools offer. We need to be adding teachers not losing them.
4. We will lose extra-curricular activities including sports. These sports and clubs enrich our children's education in many ways, and are an important part of teaching them to be caring, engaged, global citizens. We cannot expect our teachers to be able to absorb increases in class sizes and teach more curricula without something else giving.
5. We will discourage bright students from entering the teaching profession.
I believe that education is like a basic foodstuff and funding should remain stable. It should not be treated as discretionary spending to be cut back when funds are tight. I am appalled that $340 million is to be spent on a new museum in Edmonton, whilst education funding is inadequate. This museum project should be delayed again until the province's economy recovers and the money spent to maintain and improve our education system. It's like buying a new home theatre system when there is no food on the table!
Finally I looked at the government's Education Business Plan for 2011-2014 signed by The Hon Dave Hancock QC on February 2, 2011. Its Goal 2a is for satisfaction with the quality of basic education to improve 2% by 2011-12. Goal 2d is for the perception that Alberta's education system has improved in the last 3 years to improve 2% between 2009-10 and 2013-14. How, I ask, can this be possible when the government will not fund the teachers’ salary increases that it negotiated back in 2007 and how can it be asking fewer teachers to do more?
I live in abc community, in your riding. I understand that you believe in sustainability of education funding and I implore you to fight on our behalf for education funding to be restored for the next school year.
Thank you and I look forward to reading your response.
From Parent
It is with a sense of despair that I have been learning how the Provincial government's education budget for 2011-12 will impact virtually every school board in Alberta. I am a parent of 2 children in the public education system, and I attended the Rally in Support of Education Funding on May 7th in Calgary. There were several speakers who had travelled from other parts of the province to inform us that every Board was facing deep staff cuts. It is clear these claims from the Boards are universal and cannot be blamed on individual Board mismanagement.
The education system has made such progress since the implementation of the Learning Commission's recommendations to reduce class sizes, but now the government seems to be willing to destroy all the gains that have been made. These are my deep concerns:-
1. We will lose many fine teachers from the province forever and some may leave the teaching profession altogether.
2. The money the government saves now will need to be spent many times over in the future educating new teachers to replace the ones we will lose.
3. We will lose many students from the public sector to the private sector. I know personally several students who made this move in order to get the smaller class sizes that private schools offer. We need to be adding teachers not losing them.
4. We will lose extra-curricular activities including sports. These sports and clubs enrich our children's education in many ways, and are an important part of teaching them to be caring, engaged, global citizens. We cannot expect our teachers to be able to absorb increases in class sizes and teach more curricula without something else giving.
5. We will discourage bright students from entering the teaching profession.
I believe that education is like a basic foodstuff and funding should remain stable. It should not be treated as discretionary spending to be cut back when funds are tight. I am appalled that $340 million is to be spent on a new museum in Edmonton, whilst education funding is inadequate. This museum project should be delayed again until the province's economy recovers and the money spent to maintain and improve our education system. It's like buying a new home theatre system when there is no food on the table!
Finally I looked at the government's Education Business Plan for 2011-2014 signed by The Hon Dave Hancock QC on February 2, 2011. Its Goal 2a is for satisfaction with the quality of basic education to improve 2% by 2011-12. Goal 2d is for the perception that Alberta's education system has improved in the last 3 years to improve 2% between 2009-10 and 2013-14. How, I ask, can this be possible when the government will not fund the teachers’ salary increases that it negotiated back in 2007 and how can it be asking fewer teachers to do more?
I live in abc community, in your riding. I understand that you believe in sustainability of education funding and I implore you to fight on our behalf for education funding to be restored for the next school year.
Thank you and I look forward to reading your response.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Join Together Alberta: Calgary Town Hall
Join Together Alberta
Calgary Town Hall
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 7:00PM - 9:00PM
Location:
Parkdale United Church, Conference Room, 2919 8th Avenue NW, Calgary
Join together for this important community discussion.
Help create the Alberta you want!
Public services are essential to the health and well-being of our families and our communities. Yet, in a province as wealthy as Alberta, we are seeing growing class sizes, teacher and staff layoffs, a health care crisis, and under-funded public services. We must join together to build a better Alberta, one that empowers and supports our children, our families and our communities.
Join Together Alberta is an exciting campaign to protect Alberta’s vital public services. We’re reaching out across the province with a telephone town hall meeting (May 31) as well as 7 town hall meetings in cities around Alberta to foster dialogue and action towards a better Alberta for all.
Speakers to be announced soon.
Free and open to the public.
Please click here and register in advance.
Calgary Town Hall
Wed, Jun 15, 2011 7:00PM - 9:00PM
Location:
Parkdale United Church, Conference Room, 2919 8th Avenue NW, Calgary
Join together for this important community discussion.
Help create the Alberta you want!
Public services are essential to the health and well-being of our families and our communities. Yet, in a province as wealthy as Alberta, we are seeing growing class sizes, teacher and staff layoffs, a health care crisis, and under-funded public services. We must join together to build a better Alberta, one that empowers and supports our children, our families and our communities.
Join Together Alberta is an exciting campaign to protect Alberta’s vital public services. We’re reaching out across the province with a telephone town hall meeting (May 31) as well as 7 town hall meetings in cities around Alberta to foster dialogue and action towards a better Alberta for all.
Speakers to be announced soon.
Free and open to the public.
Please click here and register in advance.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
"Don't Drop the Ball" Rally Attracts Hundreds in Edmonton
The Edmonton Journal article, "Hundreds rally against education cuts," reports that the school council that organized the event did so in response to the news that Edmonton public could be eliminating 229 teaching positions and 86 full time positions that assist special needs students. The school council chair shared that, "If the cuts go forward as planned, the school will stand to lose two teaching positions, along with one of two “strategies classes,” designed to help students falling behind in reading, writing or math. Instead, all of the Grade 4, 5 and 6 students who need the extra help will now be in the same class."Photo courtesy Corina Dootjes, Canmore
Education Minister blogs about, "Money Matters: Let's focus on what improves student outcomes"
Education Minister Dave Hancock has a new blog posting that discusses the budget, class size, and student outcomes.
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