Community Connection

The following information was recently sent to Board Chairs of Public, Separate, Francophone and Charter School Boards and Presidents, Stakeholder Associations from the Honourable Jeff Johnson, Alberta Minister of Education:

Today I was honoured to introduce Bill 3, The Education Act, in the Alberta Legislature. You can view the news release here.

Alberta’s new Education Act brings to life the vision for a 21st century education that educators like you and thousands of other Albertans shared through Inspiring Education and subsequent consultations. We have listened to what Albertans were saying and their input is reflected in this legislation.

The Act contains some of the toughest anti-bullying measures of any jurisdiction in Canada. The legislation makes it clear bullying and other inappropriate behaviour is not acceptable under any circumstances – not by students, teachers or anyone else in the school community.  It sets out the expectation that schools must be welcoming, caring, respectful, safe and free from physical and emotional harm in order for children and youth to be successful.

Bill 3 is also the first legislation in Canada to formally recognize the role of parents as a child's first and most important teacher and maintains Alberta’s commitment to choice in education, whether it is public, separate, francophone, private, charter or home education. Under the new legislation, School Boards will also be given more flexibility to meet local needs.

As Premier Alison Redford recently said, “Education is the key to responsible citizenship. It is how young Albertans understand who we are and connect with the values we share. It also gives them the skills they need to take an active role in society.”

I am confident we all share the Premier’s commitment to an education system built on a foundation that parents, students, teachers, administrators and interested Albertans are all important partners in the education of future generations.

The introduction of new Education Act is not the end of the journey toward a transformed education system for Alberta. When the Education Act is passed, corresponding regulations and policies will have to be aligned before it comes into force. Synchronizing the regulations to the legislation will ensure a successful transition and strengthen the education system for the future. I look forward to your feedback during this review, which I hope to get started shortly after the legislation passes.

Please accept my sincere thanks for your dedication to Alberta students and their families and your contributions to the development of this important piece of legislation. I encourage you to share this message with trustees, principals, teachers and parents across Alberta.

Jeff Johnson

Minister of Education

MLA for Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater