Education Minister Adriana LaGrange. (Gov't of Alberta YouTube livestream)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

too quick, teachers say

K-6 curriculum coming in this fall, while ATA poll suggests teachers strongly disapprove

Mar 10, 2022 | 4:53 PM

Alberta’s education minister gave a major update Thursday on how the government is moving forward with its implementation of the K-6 curriculum.

Among the highlights shared by Adriana LaGrange, the new K-3 math, K-3 English language arts and literature, as well as the new K-6 physical education curriculum, will be implemented this September.

New curriculum for Grades 4-6 math and English language arts will begin September 2023.

LaGrange fielded questions from media, defending the government’s level of consultation on the curriculum. This despite a poll released today by the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) which suggests only three per cent of teachers feel they have the resources and supports to successfully implement the new material so quickly.

“We promised parents and students an updated curriculum with more emphasis on the literacy and numeracy learning foundations and outcomes students will need for success. We are taking a thoughtful, measured approach and implementing three new subjects in elementary classrooms this fall,” LaGrange said.

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“The significant investment we are making in curriculum implementation will help ensure teachers have the resources they need to support students in transitioning to the new curriculum.”

Implementation is happening with a $191 million investment by the government, including $59 million in 2022-23 for teacher professional development, plus learning and teaching resources.

The new curriculum coming in this fall is expected to impact approximately 390,400 students and 37,100 teachers.

The ATA’s poll was conducted this past January and February, and questioned two groups — one of 800 Albertans, and another of 825 ATA members.

Almost half of residents don’t believe the curriculum will meet the needs of students, while six in 10 feel the Alberta government is mishandling public education.

The most pressing issue for ATA members is classroom conditions, meaning class size, and support for special needs. A whopping 76 per cent of members asked said they strongly disapprove — with another 14 per cent saying they somewhat disapprove — of the government’s handling of K-12 education.

“Enough is enough. The proposed curriculum does not enjoy public support, and the consensus opinion of groups representing parents, teachers, school boards and education faculty is that it cannot be implemented in its current form,” says ATA President Jason Schilling. “It has not been appropriately piloted, and teachers do not have what they need to put it in front of students in only six months.”

Adds Schilling: “Implementing new curriculum in one grade and one subject requires a significant amount of planning, preparation and resource development on behalf of individual teachers. Expecting teachers and schools to implement curriculum in four grades and three subject areas all at once next school year is a recipe for chaos after two very exhausting years for teachers and administrators. Just stop!”

NDP Education Critic Sarah Hoffman declared a small victory Thursday, saying the minister has agreed to delay, “some of the harm she is forcing on Alberta students.”

“The UCP seems focused on ramming through a curriculum that won’t help students prepare for higher learning, the world of work or how to be engaged citizens. But today the minister at least agreed to delay the implementation of math and language arts beyond Grade 3,” said Hoffman.

“Parents rightfully want to ensure that their children are getting a world class education, which has long been the reputation for Albertans, this is no longer the case under the UCP. The UCP still cannot be trusted with curriculum or with public education. The only way to truly have a curriculum we can trust is to change the government.”

More on the new K-6 curriculum is at alberta.ca.

You can watch the minister’s entire update below…