K to 12 education legislation and regulations

The Education Amendment Act, formerly Bill 8, amends the Education Act to carry over recent improvements made to the education system. The bill also ensures that some current rules will not change in order to minimize disruptions to parents and schools. These include:

• existing age of access is maintained (19)
• residency rules based on custodial parent
• sixteen as the compulsory age of attendance
• standardized age of entry to kindergarten will come into effect on September 1, 2020
• the restriction on charging school fees for specific instructional supplies and materials

The following regulations take their authority from specific sections of the Education Act and describe additional legal requirements that must be met by:

• the Government of Alberta
• school boards
• charter schools
• private schools
• early childhood operators
• teachers
• parents

The relevant sections of the Education Act are identified after each regulation.

• Alberta School Foundation Fund s.169
• Board of Reference Fees s.239
• Board Procedures s.69
• Borrowing s.180
• Certification of Teachers and Teacher Leaders ss.201 and s.224
• Charter Schools s.28
• Disposition of Property s.194
• Early Childhood Services s.21
• Establishment of Separate School Districts ss. 100, 101, 103, 104, 106, 107 and 110
• Home Education s.20
• Investment s.54
• Petitions and Public Notices s.250
• Practice Review of Teachers and Teacher Leaders ss.201 and 224
• Private Schools s.29
• School Councils s.55
• School Fees s.57
• School Transportation s.59
• Special School Tax Levy Plebiscite s.172
• Student Record s.56
• Superintendent of Schools s.224
• Charter Schools Exemption and Application s.27

The Government of Canada Constitution Act, 1867 (previously known as the British North America Act) establishes exclusive provincial/territorial mandates with respect to education matters.

The Government of Canada Constitution Act, 1982 (also known as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms) ensures the rights of all peoples in Canada to:

• freedom
• democracy
• mobility
• security
• well-being
• minority language education rights

Consolidated Government of Canada Constitution Act, 1867 to 1982

The Government of Canada Human Rights Act declares that individuals cannot be discriminated against on the basis of:

• race
• national or ethnic origin
• colour
• religion
• age
• sex
• sexual orientation
• marital status
• family status
• disability

The Government of Canada Indian Act defines the rights and responsibilities of First Nations people and communities, and the role of the federal government in First Nations matters. This includes federal responsibility for the education of First Nations children and youth living on reserve. The Indian Act also enables First Nations to enter into agreements with provincial school boards so that their students may attend schools that are located off reserve.

The Government of Canada Copyright Act establishes the rights of ownership, reproduction and use of original works (for example, textbooks and other educational resources, literature, music, academic writing) and the penalties for unauthorized use of such works.

All Alberta school authorities must comply with international and federal copyright legislation and related agreements.