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Part of New and proposed legislation

Strengthening Alberta’s education system

Bill 51 would reflect changes in the education landscape and respond to feedback from our education partners and Albertans.

Status: Bill 51 was introduced on April 8, 2025. 
Ministry responsible: Education

Overview

If passed, Bill 51, the Education Amendment Act, 2025, would amend the Education Act to strengthen transparency, accountability and efficiency in Alberta’s education system.

Proposed changes would amend the Education Act, which specifies goals for Alberta’s education system and identifies the roles and responsibilities of the ministry, school boards, charter schools, private schools, teachers, parents and students.

Key changes

If passed, Bill 51 would make the following amendments:

  • reflect the wide range of programming and school choice independent schools provide for Alberta families by replacing the term ‘private school’ with ‘independent school,’ and all instances of ‘private ECS operator’ with ‘independent ECS operator’
  • strengthen democratic accountability by removing a school board or francophone regional authority’s ability to disqualify an elected trustee over code of conduct breaches, leaving those decisions in the hands of voters
  • clarify and enhance efficiency in the teacher discipline process by:
    • allowing administrators to delegate reporting requirements and other complainant roles
    • eliminating duplicate reporting requirements to decrease administrative burden
    • enabling administrators to be informed about ongoing complaints when a teacher, principal or assistant principal becomes employed by a different school authority
    • clarifying that the chair of the hearing committee may apply to court for an order for compliance when necessary
  • implement a small fee for complainant appeals that will be set through additional amendments to the Professional Conduct and Competency for Teachers and Teacher Leaders Regulation
  • increase flexibility and alignment with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs by automatically exempting school boards and francophone regional authorities from entering into joint use and planning agreements (JUPAs) with municipalities that are exempt under other legislation
  • align with planned amendments to the Local Authorities Election Act allowing displaced Jasper residents to vote and run in the 2025 and 2026 general elections

If passed, the Education Act would also be changed to enable the Ministry of Infrastructure to own new kindergarten to Grade 12 schools and playgrounds and lease them to school boards, francophone school boards and charter schools for operation and maintenance.

Next steps

If passed, amendments related to private school terminology, teacher discipline and joint use and planning agreements would come into effect upon proclamation.

Amendments related to trustee accountability would come into effect on the day following the next local authorities’ general election in October 2025.

Amendments related to voting rights for Jasper residents would come into effect with the changes in the Local Authorities Election Act that are part of the Elections Statutes Amendment Act planned for spring 2025.

Amendments related to school property ownership would come into effect at the same time as the Appropriation Act, 2025.

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