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

Education Act: Cyberbullying

In light of a recent report from the OECD, "The Protection of Children Online," it is reassuring to know that the recently introduced Bill 18: Education Act addresses the issue of cyberbullying. As stated in the recently released Education Act brochure, there will be a greater focus on "caring, respectful and safe schools" and the proposals in the Act will better equip school boards and staff to respond to situations that impact students and their school environment.

Specifically, the issue is addressed on pages 40 and 41 of the Education Act under Student Discipline. In essence, a principal may suspend or expel a student if, in their opinion, "the student's conduct, whether or not the conduct occurs within the school building or during the school day, is injurious to the physical or mental well-being of others in the school."

To discuss this issue further or find out more about other provisions of the Act, you can engage with Alberta Education directly. CAPSC is also tentatively planning a meeting around the issue of cyberbullying/bullying at a meeting this fall.