Bill 2: Education Act

Bill 2: Education Act has passed first reading today in the Legislature. '"Everyone has a role in helping students succeed,"' Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk states in an Alberta Education news release, "Education Act sets students on path to success." For more information about the new Education Act, check out the Alberta Education website. The Alberta Government has also released an Education Act fact sheet for parents.


For your reference:

Current School Act and Regulations

Bill 18: Education Act

Speech from the Throne: Education

What does the Alberta Government have in store for Education? Check out Assembly Online at 3 pm today for the Speech from the Throne.

Update: The text of the Speech from the Throne is now available on the Alberta Government website. Excerpts from the speech that address education appear below:


...It's time for foundational change. It won't be easy, but it is the right way to better manage the annual unpredictability in the budgeting process.

And it begins now. Budget 2012 will bring predictable funding on a three-year cycle to education, advanced education and municipalities. Your government will work with its partners in these areas to allow for greater stability, improved long-term planning and delivery of outcomes...

...Alberta must be able to succeed and thrive in the global knowledge economy, and that means giving every Albertan the opportunity to benefit from a cutting-edge education, from kindergarten to post-secondary, so everyone can reach their full potential...

...It will revamp Alberta's education system so all graduates can hit the ground running and contribute more effectively than ever.

Alberta Education Newsletter: #AbED News

Alberta Education has circulated its first edition of the #AbED News. There is a message from Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk and articles of interest to parents and others.

Education Minister Introduces 10-point Plan for Education

In a news release today, Education Minister, Thomas Lukaszuk, announced a 10-point plan for education. This plan came out of the Education Act consultations that were open to the public from late November to early January. The Minister hopes to move ahead on these initiatives in the coming months.

The 10-point plan for education includes:

Practical improvements to enhance students’ experiences

-Reducing travel times for students who spend more than one hour on a bus will help improve the school experience. A trial project in one school division will identify bus route efficiencies and improve transportation services. Another trial will look at enabling students to better use technology when they travel.

-Creating more opportunities for students to earn credits in high school and post-secondary programs at the same time will help them be successful in their chosen career. A provincial dual credit strategy will be developed to help school boards develop stronger programs. Separately, a new project will provide apprenticeship training to teachers so they are better equipped to teach advanced dual credit courses in Career & Technology Studies.

-Updating design specifications will mean government can better support communities when we build new schools. New school design specifications will better accommodate health-related services, community sports programs, and wheelchair access.

-Developing a better process for building playgrounds at the same time as new schools will mean that children can be active sooner.

Stronger partnerships to set the right foundation for the future

-Reducing the administrative burden for established, effective charter schools will mean that they can focus on their students.

-Working with the federal government will better co-ordinate support for First Nations students. Our focus will be on enhancing literacy and numeracy skills, with a focus on students in Northland and band schools adjacent to Northlands.

-Creating a stronger voice for parents in the education system will supplement the work of school councils. Working with the Alberta School Councils’ Association, new initiatives will be developed to strengthen parental input and new materials will support the department’s online interaction with parents.

-Providing better information about what the school system is doing, accomplishing, and spending will increase transparency, clarity and accountability. More efficient and relevant reporting from school boards will help identify information and ways to present it that are useful for Albertans.

Reviews to set the stage for future decisions

-Reviewing provincial achievement tests, first so that we can find better ways to understand how students, schools, and the system are doing and then so we can use that knowledge to improve students’ success. The review will be launched by spring 2012, and provincial tests will continue for students in grades 3, 6 and 9 until the review is complete and any resulting changes are made.

-Reviewing the learning benefits of full-day kindergarten and identifying operational issues will help us better understand the implications of a possible future programming change.

The Education Act will be reintroduced at the spring sitting of the Legislature.

Alberta Education: Fall Budget Update

In a news release today, Alberta Education shared the Fall Update to the 2011/2012 Budget that offers a provincial overview of how school jurisdictions spent their portion of the $107M in additional funding from the province. Education Minister, Thomas Lukaszuk, observed that, '“Like any investment, Albertans want to be assured the dollars went to the right place and improved the overall learning experience of students. They can be confident that this is the case.”'

The update indicates that approximately 623 teachers and 397 support staff were hired throughout the province for a total of nearly $88M. Another $19M was spent on technology, equipment/materials and teacher professional development.

In a report submitted by the Calgary Board of Education that forms part of this update, the entire $19.2M of additional funding went out to schools and was spent on staff. Schools hired 159.45 FTE teachers and 64.48 FTE support staff.

Of the $19.2M of funding, $4.2M was directed to the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI) by Alberta Education. The CBE used this money to hire 44.97 FTE positions to support Personalized Learning school-based projects.

The remaining $15M was used to hire 179.16 FTEs at the school level. Schools hired staff to support class size, English Language Learners, Special Education students, enhancement of supports for all learners, second language learning, enrolment growth (decline), Knowledge and Employability courses and Career and Technology Studies. A chart outlining the number of schools that supported these categories is included in the report.

School Councils and Parents: Teleconference with Education Minister, Hon. Thomas Lukaszuk

The following notice was distributed today by the Alberta School Councils' Association (ASCA):

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TO ALL PARENTS AND SCHOOL COMMUNITY MEMBERS


The Minister of Education is hosting a teleconference with parents on school councils at 7:45 pm on November 29th to discuss education.


The Minister believes that parents play an important role in the education system, and is interested in hearing directly from them.

Parents and School Council representatives are invited to participate in the conference call with the Honourable Thomas Lukaszuk, Minister of Education to discuss priorities for the next several months for Alberta's education system.

Participants are encouraged to gather as a group to dial in where possible.

The call will begin at 7:45 PM on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 and will take approximately 1 hour.

Please dial in at least 15 to 20 minutes ahead of time to the number listed below, as it will take time for all participants to be queued into the call and ensure participation.


Dial in information: 1-888-789-9572

Conference ID: # 5634664

When participants dial in they will be greeted by a conference operator asking for the conference ID, the person's name, school and school authority. Participants will be able to ask a limited number of questions following the Minister's comments.


All questions and responses will be heard by all participants and the Minister will answer as many questions as possible in the time allotted. If you experience any problems during the conference call, please stay on the line to speak to the operator.

If participants have any questions in the days leading up to the teleconference, please contact Maureen Melnyk, Education Manager, Learning Supports & Information Management, at maureen.melnyk@gov.ab.ca or by telephone at 780-427-6272, or by calling toll free at 310-0000.

Alberta Education offering more opportunities to provide feedback on the Education Act

In a news release today, the Alberta Government is asking all Albertans - young and old - to provide feedback on the Education Act. In addition to the forums that were announced previously, the public can engage online through discussion boards, facebook and twitter along with providing written submissions to the Minister.

Alberta Education invites your input on the guiding principles for future curriculum design

Inspiring Education asked the question: What does an Educated Albertan look like 20 years from now? After much discussion and consultation around the transformation of education in our province, Alberta Education has been moving the agenda forward in regards to what students will be learning and the outcomes of this learning. After extensive research and hosting a series of Curriculum Roundtables, this activity culminated in the symposium, "Curriculum Design for Informed Transformation: Creating a Great School for Every Student."

A member of our executive was able to attend one of the roundtables and you can read this article that appeared in our newsletter last spring for more information.

Alberta Education is now providing another opportunity for public input on the "guiding principles for future curriculum design" through an online survey. Curriculum design would include items such as programs of study, assessment and educational resources. The deadline for participation is November 21.

Alberta Government News Release: Education Act pulled from Fall 2011 Legislative Session

In a news release today, the Alberta Government announced that Bill 18 (Education Act) was being pulled from the fall session. The Hon. Thomas Lukaszuk, Education Minister, made the decision after consulting with school boards and stakeholder organizations. A revised Education Act would be back before the Legislature in the spring after further engagement with students, parents, teachers and the public.

' “It is crucial that this legislation has a direct and positive impact on students,” said Lukaszuk. “I am committed to ensuring our province continues to foster a world-class education system that puts the needs of our children first.” '


The Calgary Board of Education, in a letter dated October 24 from Board Chair, Pat Cochrane, asks that the Minister not rush this legislation through as it needs further development to reflect "the themes identified by Albertans in Inspiring Action." The letter goes on to say, "This is work that is critically important for student learning into the future." (Board Report: Correspondence, page 25)

In an email dated October 21, the Alberta School Boards' Association provided the Education Minister with some highlighted provisions that they felt needed clarification and/or addititional context. These included provisions around Age of Access, Compulsory Education, Student/Parent/Board Responsibilities and Suspensions/Expulsions.

FAQ: Education Act (General) from Alberta Education website
FAQ: Education Act (Parents and Students) from Alberta School Councils Association website

Back to School Information

For great back to school information, check out the Calgary Board of Education's Back 2 School Website and Alberta Education's Back to School Information Kit 2011/2012.

Financial Accountability and Best Practice at the CBE

At the May 3 Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees, CAPSC submitted two questions related to financial accountability and best practice at the CBE during Question Period. The questions were read into the record and while responses were not immediately available, the board did respond to us in writing and read them into the public record at a later board meeting (these responses are in regular text). CAPSC felt further clarification was required so they were resubmitted but not for Question Period (these responses are in bold italic text).

Question #1

Alberta Education’s Accountability Framework requires detailed reporting from school boards. For example, school boards are required to submit audited financial statements to the Minister on an annual basis. The Ministry closely reviews the statements and documentation surrounding these filings and provides feedback to the boards either in the form of incentives for good performance or penalties and disincentives for poor performance. The Auditor General also reviews the work of not only the Ministry of Education but also school boards. Reviews by the Ministry or the Auditor General are not limited to financial reporting but would also include important items like governance. From reading what is publicly available, nothing seems to indicate that the CBE is in trouble in either case. Boards who are judged to be poor performers are being dealt with publicly as is the case with the Northland School Division. There may be recommendations for improvement for some other school boards that are not specifically named but there is follow up and continued monitoring of these boards. Could the CBE share any feedback that they have received from the Ministry in regards to the Accountability Framework?

Response:

Alberta Education expects a clean audit opinion (unqualified audit) annually from school districts. The CBE has experienced a clean audit for at least the last 15 years. The CBE has never experienced a performance or operational review by either Alberta Education or the Office of the Auditor General.

The Office of the Auditor General undertook a budget process review of 13 school districts (including the CBE) approximately five years ago and the CBE was identified as having exemplary budgeting and reporting processes.

In regards to the Accountability Pillar tied to financial matters, there are no prescribed stand-alone documents stated or required from Alberta Education. However, when it comes to accountability and financial reporting to Alberta Education, the Calgary Board of Education provides an Audited Financial Statement (AFS) in the format mandated by Alberta Education and as required by the School Act (November 30th of each year). Feedback is provided to all jurisdictions on the submitted AFS. The feedback is usually received two to three months after the submission of the statements. Feedback received pertains to disclosure and confirming amounts in any of the statements or schedules.

In addition, embedded in the Calgary Board of Education’s Annual Education Results Report there are financial summary details of the most recently completed fiscal year, including revenues, expenses by program, any net use or application of operating funds and the organization’s overall financial position. As mandated by Alberta Education, the organization further provides financial information regarding School Generated Funds (SGF) and under this program how revenues are generated and how funds are spent to augment student learning.

Question #2

Alberta Education has a role in supporting school boards in their financial oversight which includes reviewing budgets, quarterly updates, and audited financial statements. In response to the 2005/2006 Auditor General’s Report, Alberta Education set up a Task Force under MLA Janice Saarich, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education. Out of this 2010 report came a set of best practices to assist trustees and superintendents to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their financial oversight activities. This checklist, found in Appendix 6 on page 53 of the report, is described as an assessment tool for current practice in oversight activities. Could the board go through the list and comment on each of the best practices as they pertain to the Calgary Board of Education.

http://www.asboa.ab.ca/PDF/jsfinancialtaskforceeditsfinal.pdf

Response:

Alberta Education has identified the budgeting and reporting processes that are required to be followed and the CBE conducts this work in alignment with these processes and ensures best practices are followed.

It is incumbent upon the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) to utilize best practice; sound financial business processes and incorporate these within the budgeting, monitoring and reporting cycles of the organization.

Below is a commentary on how the CBE incorporates these as referenced in the checklist found on page 53 of the Appendix 6 to the 2010 report identified above.

Building Financial Capacity for School Board Trustees and Superintendents – Appendix 6 – Best Practices:
Budget Assumptions

• Considerable planning for the Operating Budget takes place – usually commencing in December of each fiscal year.
• The CBE fully considers the enrolment projections forecasted for the upcoming year (all types) and these are provided to the Board in January.
• The CBE identifies and incorporates the following budget assumptions which are shared with the Board:
o CBE Finance Department considers and collaborates with Human Resources regarding resolved and expected salary increases based on comparable organizations (ie: City of Calgary) and considers general economic conditions for all staff.
o CBE considers all grid movements anticipated for staff in those specified categories.
o CBE considers all announced statutory changes (employer’s share of CPP, EI, Pension plans).
o The CBE includes revenue change expectations (uses the Provincial Budget announcement and all associated grant rate changes).
o Other income sources (non Provincial) are fully considered (ie: interest income/Fees).
o Transportation budget is considered including inflationary increases (fuel prices, etc.) and expected service offerings.
o Identifies all other contractual obligations (changes).
o The CBE builds and develops the budget in full alignment with the CBE Three-Year Education Plan.
o The Preliminary Budget and supporting assumptions and documentations are shared with the Board of Trustees as part of the budget approval process.

Budget Updates
• The entire CBE budget is recalculated in the first quarter of every school year and reflects the confirmed student count at September 30 and all program requirements based on confirmed student need (ie: demand for Full day Kindergarten.) All revenues are recalculated and the Resource Allocation Method (Fall Schools RAM process) confirms the spending at schools and any required amended operating reserve draw(s) are placed before the Board for their consideration and approval.
• The Fall Budget Update or a full Budget report, as prescribed by Alberta education, is placed before the board of Trustees for approval before being formally submitted to Alberta Education.
• The budget is updated to reflect changes for revenues and associated expenses, staffing changes and finalization of operating reserves for the previous year.

Financial Monitoring
• The Board of Trustees receives quarterly reports with projections to year end (Variances) for both the operating and capital budgets in accordance with Executive Limitation 11: Financial Condition.
• Superintendents’ Team monitors all spending for the organization as a whole and individual Superintendent’s monitor their own operating or capital budgets at the Department and Service Unit level, significant variances are investigated and mitigated as required during the year.
• Managers, Directors and Superintendents have explicit responsibility for budgetary control as articulated in their position description for their area of accountability.
• Recommendations for budget adjustments by the Board of Trustees is communicated through these quarterly reports for consideration and approval.

Financial Health
• Is a dual responsibility of the Board of Trustees and Superintendents Team. Avoiding fiscal jeopardy is always in the forefront of the operating budget process to ensure a liquid and long term sustainable service offer to students. The Board of Trustees has prescribed Executive Limitations and especially Executive Limitation 10 – Budget Process to ensure prudent budgeting processes to ensure the long term financial health of the organization. The Board monitors compliance with EL-10 on an annual basis. The Financial Health of the organization is also considered with respect to available operating reserves to support any planned expenditures on a one time basis. The Board’s auditors also monitor the health of the organization as part of the annual audit process (going concern).
• Projections are forecast out two to three years to ensure the long term fiscal health of the organization is not jeopardized.

Audit Committee
• The Board of Trustees has a fully functioning audit committee that recommends approval of the audit plan and recommends to the Board of Trustees approval of the year end financial statements. The audit committee exercises its function through approved Terms of Reference. The Audit Committee includes Board members and external public members to review internal control adequacy. Members of the Audit Committee are able to ask questions of the appointed external auditors about any audit findings or other matters with and without administration present.

Internal Audit
• The organization has an internal controls advisor position within Corporate Financial Services whose primary function is to provide general advice and best practice concepts regarding matters of internal control. In addition, the auditors through their audit findings, report potential internal control improvements to Administration.

Capacity Training for School Board Trustees and Superintendents
• Internal training is provided to new Trustees following election, and includes financial reporting, financial literacy, financial monitoring and governance by CBE staff and through the Alberta School Boards Association.

Positive Trend in High School Completion/Drop Out Rates

In a recent news release, "High school completion rate continues upward climb," Alberta Education shares that the three-year high school completion rate rose to 72.6% in 2010 from 71.5% in 2009. The five year completion rate remained at 79%. The drop out rate for students between the ages of 14 to 18 declined from 4.3% in 2009 to 4.2% in 2010.

At the Calgary Board of Education, the Interim Three-Year Education Plan 2011 - 2014 report went to the Board of Trustees at the June 14 public meeting. Good news around high school results were in the report. The three-year high school completion rate was improved and now stands at 70.8% The drop out rate for students between the ages of 14and 18 improved significantly and now stands at 4.1%.

Kids drop out of school for many reasons and the process often starts early on in their school career. Alberta Education has recently introduced an interesting website High School Completion Strategic Framework. There is a Parent Info tab that has links to resources that can help parents keep their kids in school or help those who dropped out return to high school.

Alberta Education Posts Education Act Videos of Q & A Sessions

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

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

Transportation Funding for Metro Urban School Districts

Metro Urban Transportation Funding 2011/2012
(Calgary Public, Calgary Catholic, Edmonton Public, Edmonton Catholic)

Regular (per expected eligible passenger): $538

Parent-provided ECS. Transportation (per child with a disability/delay): $538

ECS Special (per round trip/child with a disability/delay -max. of 185 trips): $15.44

Special Transportation (per funded student based on severe profile): $2,857

*Source: Alberta Education Funding Manual 2011/2012

Education Rally Speech, May 7th, 2011

The late Lois E. Hole, former Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta - memorably said,

The staggering truth is, almost everything that we’ve accomplished in the 20^th century can be attributed to our public education system …. I firmly believe that the historians of the future will look back and consider the concept of public education the most important instrument of social progress the human race has yet produced.”

Our present dilemma asks me to question whether we understand what this perceptive leader pointed out so many years ago. When we don’t focus appropriate resources and attention to the preparation of our children in a public education system- we may be risking not adequately preparing them for the kind of world they are inheriting. A world that is very complex, faced with many challenges, extremely competitive and has a great need for citizens who can think critically, systemically and who are able to make wise decisions.

A mentor and a wise friend defines education as, “Everything that a society does to prepare its members to face the challenges of its time and place in history.”   

We, as parents, teachers, siblings and members of the community all play a very significant role in our children's education. Teachers in particular play a significant role as the primary educators in our school systems.

As parents we hope that we have made the BEST choice that we can when we send our little ones off to school; whether it’s to our community school or an alternative program, we hope that we have found a good match for our children. We hope that they head off every day able to keep their sense of wonder and with some enthusiasm and creativity gain the necessary academic proficiencies needed to be global citizens. 

Parents want to know that we have sent our children to school in an education system that is adequately resourced and has the supports in place to help them reach their full potential. We want choices for our kids as we know that they all learn in different ways and benefit from different experiences and teaching styles. We expect that our choice is not dependent upon whether we can afford transportation fees or other costs. 

I am dedicated to public education through my own children. I am inspired to do more by the passion and devotion of parents - parents who see the challenges ahead, who see education as the only way of securing a safe and prosperous future for their children. Parents like many of you. 

The recent Inspiring Education dialogue identifies the wishes and desires of people across Alberta for an education system that prepares our youth for today’s world. It advocates innovative educational environments-and the type of education that truly prepares the next generation for the problems and opportunities of their time and place in history. We look to a future that presents a more competitive world and global challenges like we have never faced before. Emerging economies are threatening to pass over the western world, but Alberta can be an island, even on its own, 

To do this we need sustainable and predictable funding to be in place so that we can continue the journey that we are on in public education...moving forwards and embracing the opportunities and challenges that are ahead. 

We understand that governments work with limited resources and must meet competing demands and that it is not an easy task. But Education MUST be a priority and we need to allocate our resources to reflect that reality.  We all know that every dollar invested in education yields a substantial return not only for the individual but for society as a whole.

Haim G. Ginott said, “Teachers are expected to reach unattainable goals with inadequate tools. The miracle is that at times they accomplish this impossible task”.

Lets make sure they have more than ‘adequate’ tools so that they can reach attainable goals like high school completion. We need a commitment to funding for education.

Organizations can never be better than the people we have in them, and we want to continue to have the best people with the appropriate resources. 

We MUST start with long-term funding commitments and from that foundation we must establish the cornerstones of solid board decision-making and resource allocation as well as teaching excellence, program & curriculum development, and caring/engaged parents who are here to prepare and support their children. We must approach this always thinking,  “what can I do to improve Public Education” . We need to work together to make Alberta and our children's' future all that it can be.

~Eryn Kelly~

CAPSC is Celebrating Education Week in Alberta May 2 to 6

CAPSC heartily supports the sentiments expressed by the Honourable Dave Hancock, Minister of Education, in an excerpt from his message commemorating Education Week:

Recognizing the importance of community engagement has been an important part of the ongoing transformation of Alberta’s education system and, with that in mind, I look forward to celebrating Alberta Education Week, this week, May 2nd to 6th. Our theme for 2011 is Education: The Heart of our Communities. Education goes beyond our classroom walls and I think it is only fitting that we take this special week to celebrate the wonders of learning with a focus on community.

Check out the Alberta Education Education Week webpage to read the rest of the Minister's message and find out more.

Rise up...VOTE!!!

We need your voice...VOTE and make sure you have a say in our Education, health care, taxes and what it means to be a Canadian. Rise up, VOTE on May 2nd.

2011-2012 Education Estimates Discussion at the Legislature

The Alberta Hansard record is out for yesterday's discussion of the 2011-2012 Education Estimates. If you have more time, you can watch the session at Assembly Online.

Petition-- CAPSC will have the petition available to sign at our meeting on April 20th.

FROM:       Sandy Smith, Chair of School Council and Parent Association

DATE:        April 18, 2011

Education funding has been a topic of discussion at the last two School Council meetings.  Members from the CJP School Council have organized a petition that the Alberta Parliamentarty Counsel Office has approved.  The petition states:

We, the undersigned residents of Alberta, petition the Legislative Assembly to urge the Government of Alberta to consider increasing the funding to the Ministry of Education so that sustainable and adequate funding is provided to address the needs of every student, every day, no exceptions.

The petition will be read in the legislature at the end of this month.  We had hoped to have more time to collect signatures but just found out that the legislature will be closing at the end of this month, not the scheduled date of June 2, 2011.

If you would like to support the petition, by signing it and/or collecting signatures, or have any questions about the petition and/or School Council, please contact me by telephone at (403) 230-5463 or via email at sandra.smith@mcmillan.ca 

Thank you for your time.

Sandy Smith