Premier Jason Kenney and Education Minister Adriana LaGrange speak about the Choice in Education Act. (Photo courtesy of AB. Gov.)

By The Canadian Press

Choice in Education

Alberta introduces bill that will alter charter school, home-schooling education

May 29, 2020 | 9:47 AM

EDMONTON – The Alberta government is proposing to change the rules on charter schools and home-schooling.

The proposed Choice in Education Act would allow a group seeking to establish a new charter school to bypass the local school board and apply directly to the government.

Premier Jason Kenney says the bill emphasizes that parental choice is the foundation of education.

Charter schools are independently run, non-profit public schools that provide education in a different or enhanced way, such as an all-girls school or a school for academically gifted.

Alberta has 13 charter schools, most in Edmonton and Calgary.

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The bill would also allow unsupervised, unfunded home-schooling.

Home-schooling parents would have to submit a plan to achieve an acceptable appropriate level of learning outcomes.

NDP education critic Sarah Hoffman says the bill misses the mark and furthers a government agenda to bleed resources from public schools.

Hoffman says Alberta parents tell her they want a properly funded education system with a modern curriculum and with no barriers to education.

(The Canadian Press)