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Part of Official Languages in Education Programs

Regular OLEP funding

Learn how regular OLEP funding is utilized in Alberta.

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Official Languages in Education Programs

Overview

Alberta’s portion of the regular funding is divided between minority-language francophone education and French second-language instruction, and each of those respective portions is divided between Education and Advanced Education. The resources below provide more information about Education’s portion of regular Official Languages in Education Programs (OLEP) funding in Alberta.

  • The overview of how Alberta distributes regular OLEP funding for 2024-2025 illustrates funding from the federal government to school authorities.
  • Funding manual for school authorities contains information on how Alberta distributes OLEP FTE Student Funding.
  • What We Heard –  Summary of the ECS to Grade 12 French Second-Language Consultations from October, 2023, provides a report on stakeholder feedback regarding proposed initiatives for Alberta’s next action plan.
  • What We Heard – Summary of the ECS to Grade 12 French Second-Language Consultations from February, 2023 provides a report on key outcomes from engagement opportunities related to Alberta’s next action plan.

Videos

OLEP Overview and Update Webinar from October 30, 2024 provides an overview of OLEP in Alberta.

New Alberta Action Plan French Second-Language Consultation Webinar #2 from October 18, 2023 is a follow-up to the consultations held in February 2023. Draft initiatives for the next OLEP action plan, set to take effect in April 2024, were presented for discussion and feedback.

ECS to Grade 12 French Second-Language Consultation Webinar #1 from February 27, 2023 provides a brief overview of the current action plan components and potential initiatives for Alberta’s next action plan, which is set to take effect in April 2024.

Minority-language (francophone) projects

The 4 francophone regional authorities in Alberta collaborate with the Federation of Francophone School Authorities of Alberta (FCSFA) in designing and implementing the initiatives included in the Alberta action plan.

Video

This video provided by the Greater North Central Francophone Education Region gives an example of some of the project activities that support francophone education in Alberta (French only).

OLEP funded activities

The OLEP funded activities include:

  • full-time kindergarten, including the provision of necessary resources and support;
  • initiatives to support the academic achievement of learners, including:
    • language development in the Grade 12 Français course
    • access to specialized services and support for the students
    • the development of an assessment approach in order to guide teaching practices focused on concept-based learning in relation to curriculum redesign;
  • mental health activities;
  • promotion and advertisement in order to recruit a growing number of children entitled to francophone education;
  • development of strategies to recruit teachers and French language education specialists such as speech and language therapists and psychologists;
  • development of interactive learning items, in partnership with the Centre d’éducation francophone à distance (CFED) – French distance education centre, to better meet the needs of online teaching;
  • professional development opportunities in French for teaching staff offered in collaboration with the Consortium provincial francophone pour le perfectionnement professionnel (CPFPP) – Francophone Provincial Consortium for Professional Development;
  • cultural and leadership activities offered in partnership with:
    • FJA (Francophonie jeunesse de l'Alberta – Alberta Francophone Youth Association)
    • FSFA (Fédération du sport francophone de l’Alberta – Federation of Francophone Sports of Alberta)
    • ACFA (Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta – French-Canadian Association of Alberta)
    • the youth component of ACELF (Association canadienne d’éducation de langue française – Canadian Association of French Education) and many more.

French second-language hub projects

The aim of funding for French second-language hub projects is to provide opportunities for collaboration leading to regional or provincial advancement and/or enrichment of French-language instruction.

Eligible Kindergarten to Grade 12 OLEP funding recipients offering French immersion programming and/or French as a Second Language courses can apply for hub projects that:

  • seek to advance and/or enhance French language instruction
  • extend beyond the regular operations of the school authority/organization
  • have an impact beyond the lead school authority/organization
  • include active input and collaboration from multiple school authorities, and
  • occur between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2028

The deadline for 2024/25 to 2027/28 hub project funding was March 15, 2024. Projects can be one to 4 years long and may occur between 2024/25 and 2027/28. Calls for proposals take place every 2 years, so there will be another opportunity for eligible funding recipients to apply in January 2026.

How to apply

Note: The deadline for 2024/25 to 2027/28 hub project funding was March 15, 2024. Calls for proposals take place every 2 years, so there will be another opportunity for eligible funding recipients to apply in January 2026.

Step 1. Read the guide

Applicant Guide for Hub Project Funding 2024/25 to 2027/28

Step 2. Fill out the form

Hub Project Funding Application Form

Step 3. Submit the form

Email the completed form to [email protected].

Current projects receiving funding

  • Bow River Resource and Professional Learning Centre

    Administrative and financial agent

    Calgary School Division

    Collaborators

    • Calgary Catholic School District
    • Christ The Redeemer School Division
    • Rocky View Schools
    • Golden Hills School Division
    • Foothills School Division
    • Canadian Rockies Public Schools

    Project description

    This project aims to enhance French language education by establishing a professional learning centre supporting the resource needs of new and current teachers in CASS Zone 5. The centre will coordinate with post-secondary institutions to improve teacher recruitment and establish a dual credit course at Campus Saint-Jean to attract high school students to the field of education. The centre will also aim to support new teachers with mentorship and community of practice opportunities and offer cultural activities to its members.

  • Central Alberta French Immersion Support Center Website

    Administrative and financial agent

    Chinook's Edge School Division

    Collaborators

    • Red Deer Public School Division
    • Red Deer Catholic School Division

    Project description

    This project will develop the Central Alberta French Immersion Support Center website, which will provide parents with comprehensive information and resources about French Immersion programming, allowing them to make informed choices about their children’s education. This project’s goal is to empower parents and increase student recruitment and retention in French Immersion programs in Central Alberta.

  • Developing French Oral Communication Through Cross-Curricular Connections (K-6)

    Administrative and financial agent

    Edmonton School Division

    Collaborators

    • Black Gold School Division
    • Elk Island Catholic Separate School Division
    • Elk Island School Division
    • Greater St. Albert Roman Catholic Separate School Division
    • Parkland School Division
    • St. Albert School Division
    • St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Separate School Division
    • High Prairie School Division

    Project description

    This project aims to encourage greater oral language use by French Immersion students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 by creating a collection of learning activities that make cross-curricular links. The activities will support implementation of the new Alberta Education K-6 curriculum for:

    • Physical Education and Wellness
    • French Immersion Language Arts and Literature
    • Mathematics
    • Science

    The activities will also provide teachers with research-based strategies to increase and evaluate students’ oral language. Once complete, learning activities will be made available to the public for free on Edmonton Public Schools' resource hub.

  • Grande Prairie French Language Resource Centre (GPFLRC)

    Administrative and financial agent

    Peace Wapiti School Division

    Collaborators

    • Grande Prairie School Division
    • Grande Prairie Catholic School Division
    • High Prairie School Division
    • Peace River School Division
    • Holy Family Catholic Regional School Division
    • Conseil Scolaire du Nord-Ouest
    • Northwestern Polytechnic
    • Grande Prairie Public Library
    • Peace Library System
    • Northwestern Regional Learning Consortium
    • Canadian Parents for French – Grande Prairie Chapter
    • Canadian Parents for French –Alberta Chapter
    • Association Canadienne-française de l’Alberta (ACFA)

    Project description

    The aim of this project is to maintain the successful operation of the GPFLRC, which:

    • provides multi-school authority DELF testing sessions, including training certified examiners
    • procures and maintains French language resources to support French language education and the implementation of the new curriculum
    • increases access to cultural activities to enhance French language instruction in the region

  • Innovative Intersections: Connecting Teachers for Success in French Immersion

    Administrative and financial agent

    Battle River School Division

    Collaborators

    Wolf Creek School Division

    Project description

    This project aims to develop professional workshops to support the instructional skills, language proficiency and pedagogical strategies of French Immersion teachers in Battle River and Wolf Creek school divisions. It seeks to establish a collaborative network of teachers to improve access to teaching resources and materials aligned with current educational standards to reduce professional isolation and foster a community of practice.

  • Professional Learning Supports for French Immersion and French as a Second Language Educators

    Administrative and financial agent

    College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS)

    Collaborators

    • Southern Alberta Professional Development Consortia
    • Calgary Regional Consortium
    • Central Alberta Regional Consortium
    • Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium
    • Northwest Regional Learning Consortium
    • Learning Network Educational Services

    Project description

    Led by the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia (ARPDC), this project aims to enhance French Immersion and French as a Second Language education in Alberta by developing teacher resources and professional learning opportunities to:

    • support implementation of the new curriculum
    • strengthen French language teacher efficacy
    • support the retention of French language teachers through collaborative efforts
    • meet other needs identified by teachers

  • Robust French Immersion and French as a Second Language Online Course Offerings in High School

    Administrative and financial agent

    Greater St. Albert Catholic Separate School Division

    Collaborators

    Elk Island Catholic School Division

    Project description

    This project aims to increase the rate of student retention in French Immersion programs by creating online and hybrid formats for:

    • Biologie 30
    • Chimie 30
    • Physiques 30
    • Mathématiques 30-1
    • Études Sociales 30-1
    • French Language Arts 30-1

    This will provide a pathway for students to complete their French Immersion studies to the highest level of study in their school community. The project will also aim to redesign FSL 10-, 20- and 30-3Y online courses to increase student retention in grades 10-12.

  • Southern Alberta French Language Resource Centre (SAFLRC)

    Administrative and financial agent

    Medicine Hat School Division

    Collaborators

    • Medicine Hat Catholic School Division
    • Prairie Rose School Division
    • Medicine Hat College
    • Canadian Parents for French – Medicine Hat Chapter
    • Canadian Parents for French – Alberta Branch

    Project description

    This project aims to maintain the successful operation of the SAFLRC, which:

    • procures and maintains French language resources to support French language education
    • facilitates access to French cultural events
    • supports the administration of DELF exam sessions
    • provides professional development opportunities to teachers in Southern Alberta

Archive

Contact

Connect with the Alberta Official Languages in Education Programs (OLEP) office:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-2940
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

Related

Previous Additional OLEP funding
Next Resources for educators