Premier Jason Kenney and Education Minister Adriana LaGrange speak about the Choice in Education Act. (Photo: gov't of Alberta)

By Canadian Press

Bill 15

Bill introduced to create greater “choice in education” in Alberta

May 28, 2020 | 6:48 PM

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.

“We are committed to offering a number of education options that allow parents to select the path they feel will best help their children reach their full potential,” says Education Minister Adriana LaGrange. “I am proud to say that Alberta is the leader in choice available to families, and provides parents with more opportunities for their children’s education than anywhere else in Canada.”

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.