Updated French and science curriculum will be taught to kindergarten to Grade 3 students in Alberta starting this fall.
These students will learn from new French First Language and Literature, French Immersion Language Arts and Literature, and science curriculum. School authorities have the option to implement the new curriculum for Grades 4 to 6 as well.
As announced in March 2022, school authorities will also implement Grades 4 to 6 English Language Arts and Literature and Mathematics curriculum this fall.
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In 2021, most school boards in the province refused to pilot the draft curriculum, and the curriculum, particularly the social studies curriculum, has continued to be a source of frustration for parents and teachers.
In September 2022, kindergarten to Grade 3 students learned new mathematics and English language arts and literature curriculum, while all kindergarten to Grade 6 students had a new physical education and wellness curriculum.
Public Interest Alberta started a petition last month to stop implementation of the new curriculum due to content concerns and educators not having enough time to prepare and find resources for the new curriculum.
Education Minister Adriana LaGrange said she has not heard directly from school authorities that there are any significant implementation issues. Getting curriculum into the hands of teachers sooner was identified, so it was made available this month instead of in April as it was in 2022.
“We do have a large engagement process with the teachers we’re piloting for this particular year for science and two French language subjects and we continue to offer more opportunities for resources and professional development,” LaGrange said.
NDP critic for education Sarah Hoffman said the curriculum implementation has been “a gong show from the start.”
“If the minister says she has not received any negative feedback from teachers or parents, well then it is obvious she is not listening. The scope and sequence of this curriculum is developmentally wrong for a lot of kids,” Hoffman said in a statement.
She believed the UCP is hiding the social studies curriculum, afraid to tell Albertans what they’ve done with it until after the election.
“Danielle Smith and the UCP have extreme ideologies, the rollout of their curriculum has been botched, teachers have not been supported through the process, and kids are the ones that are paying the price,” Hoffman said.
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About $47 million has been allocated for the K-6 curriculum implementation process in 2023-24.
Alberta Education says between March 2021 and February 2023, Albertans had opportunities to provide feedback on the draft K-6 curriculum. Changes have been made to address areas of concern with content load, age appropriateness and wording clarity.
The province says it is continuing to take a balanced, phased approach to K-6 curriculum renewal based on advice from the Curriculum Implementation Advisory Group.
More information on curriculum implementation, piloting opportunities and engagement will be shared online as details become available.