5.5: School Boards

Advocacy - The act of supporting or arguing for a particular cause or policy, especially in education, to ensure that students' needs are met.

Bilingual - speaking two languages

Budget - a list of items that shows how much money will be spent on each item.

Curriculum - The subjects and content taught in schools, including the lessons and materials used for education.

Education Policies - The rules and guidelines that govern how schools operate and what students are taught.

School Board - A group of elected officials responsible for managing public schools and making decisions about education in a local area.

Superintendent - Responsible for running the schools in a jurisdiction (division).

Trustee - an elected representative with an interest in supporting parents, students and community members in the education system

Board of Trustee Jobs

Responsibilities:

• Decisions - Make decisions on:

  • services and programming that supports student success (ex. French Immersion programming or sports academy)

  • school buildings and student transportation

  • how the budget is spent

• Advocacy

  • • represent the needs of schools/students to the provincial government

    • listen to people's complaints and make fair judgements

• Oversee Education

  • Make sure the provincial curriculum is taught

• Policy Development

  • • make rules and policies for schools to help them run smoothly

• Hire the superintendent

Every school has a board of trustees. They are elected officials who serve a three year term. Elections are held at the same time as municipal government elections.

Why do you think someone would want to run to be a school board trustee?

School Choices in Alberta

In Provost, we have a public and separate school. However, there are students who may choose to be home schooled through a home-school program. 

These are the main types of schools in Alberta

Public School

• Operates using public funds by the government

• Most schools in Alberta are public

• Teach Alberta curriculum

• Can be English only or have bilingual options such as French, Chinese, Arabic, and Ukrainian. 

• Must accept all resident students

Separate Schools

• For specific religious or cultural groups

• Often funded by the government but serving a particular community.

• Supports the constitutional right to minority religious education under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

• Teach Alberta curriculum

• Teach faith-based curriculum content

Francophone Schools (French first language)

• Provides education in French, serving the French-speaking community.

• Francophone parents have the right under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to have their children educated in French

Charter Schools

• Offer specialized programming such as Science, Music, Religion, or sport academy's

• Teach Alberta curriculum

Private

• Programs funded by the province

• Teach Alberta curriculum

• Permitted to charge a tuition fee to parents

• May provide specialized programming

Home Education

• Programming provided by parents

• Teach Alberta curriculum

• Must be supervised by a school board 

First Nations Band Operated Schools

• First Nations students living both on and off reserves can attend

• Funded by the federal government

• Teach Alberta curriculum

• May provide indigenous language and cultural teachings

On your exit slip, answer the questions "what role does a school board play in your community? Name one responsibility they have, and explain why it’s important.”

If you could ask our school board trustee anything regarding their duties or about how they make decision about our school, what would it be?

Fun Activity

Navigating School Governance Crossword - online crossword puzzle