Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has announced regulatory changes impacting schools. (The Canadian Press)

By David Opinko/LNN and Josh Hall/rdnewsNOW

no masks

Schools must provide access to in-person classes, says Alberta premier

Nov 24, 2022 | 8:21 PM

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says students need to be able to attend classes in person if they choose to do so.

Under new regulatory changes that take effect on Thursday, students in Grades 1 to 12 cannot be denied in-person education by their school authority due to their personal decision to wear or not wear a face mask.

Smith says school authorities will also be required to offer courses and preserve the integrity of educational programming, whether in-person or at home.

“Parents and students have told me time and time again that they want a normal school environment for their kids. With that in mind, we have taken steps to protect and enhance educational choice,’ says Smith. “Families are free to make their own personal health decisions, and, no matter what that decision is, it will be supported by Alberta’s education system.”

Smith believes that these changes are needed after two years of continual disruptions to learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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A media release from the province states that these disruptions caused many students to fall behind in reading and math, impacting their ability to keep up with their grade level.

A pilot project in the 2021-22 school year required school authorities to administer strategic learning assessments.

The assessments found that approximately 70,000 students in Grades 1-3 were, on average, 11 months behind in their learning.

Additional testing done in May to June 2022 found that the return to consistent in-person learning had a positive impact on student learning. At that point, the average learning loss was 3.7 months.

Meantime, the Opposition NDP says it’s clear Education Minister Adriana LaGrange and Premier Smith “don’t have a clue” about what’s happening in schools.”

“We know that respiratory illness outbreaks have been widespread this fall, causing intense stress and increased challenges for students, staff, and families. School districts are struggling to staff classrooms as illness moves through students and employees,” says Sarah Hoffman, education critic.

“It is totally unrealistic to expect that school districts can staff in-person and online classes simultaneously with no additional resources. They are struggling to staff schools already given UCP cuts in the last budget.”