Placement Glossary

The following terms and definitions are commonly used to describe classroom settings and specialized programs within the school divisions we work with. This resource is intended to help you understand the unique placement opportunities available and support informed placement requests. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all programs or settings.

Grade Structures

Division 1 (Div 1)

4. • Grades 1–3
     
     

Division 2 (Div 2)

4. • Grades 4–6
     
     

Junior High

4. • Grades 7–9 

School Types

Calgary Board of Education (CBE)

• The largest public school board in Calgary, responsible for hundreds of public schools offering Kindergarten to Grade 12 education. It accepts all students who meet age and residency requirements and provides diverse programs across the city.
  
  

Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD)

• The separate Catholic school division serving Calgary and the surrounding communities. It offers Kindergarten to Grade 12 education rooted in Catholic faith and designed to help students learn in both academic and spiritual dimensions.

Tsuu T’ina Education (Nation Schools)

• Schools operated by the Tsuu T’ina Nation education authority on Tsuu T’ina land. These schools teach the Alberta Programs of Study with a strong focus on community, culture and language for students of the Nation.

• Wrap-around supports and multi-disciplinary teams, outdoor education/land-based learning opportunities and more.
  
  

Stoney Education Authority (Stoney Nakoda)

• The education authority for the Stoney Nakoda Nations (including Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney). Schools focus on literacy, cultural heritage, language and community identity while teaching core academic outcomes.

• Wrap-around supports and multi-disciplinary teams, outdoor education/land-based learning opportunities and more.

Charter Schools

• A publicly funded school that operates independently of local school boards.

• Authorized to use specialized teaching methods or unique educational models while meeting Alberta curriculum requirements.

• Examples: Classical education, STEM, single-gender, alternative pedagogy, etc.

Rocky View Schools (RVS)

• A public school division serving communities west, north, and east of Calgary. RVS operates public schools from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and focuses on engaging, community‑connected learning environments for diverse learners.
  
  

Foothills School Division

• A public school division based south of Calgary that serves students from junior kindergarten through Grade 12 across multiple small towns and rural areas, offering community‑focused programs and a range of academic and extracurricular experiences.
  
  

Private Schools (Alberta)

• Independently governed schools that operate outside of public boards. They vary widely in philosophy, curriculum and tuition structure, but may be registered or accredited under provincial regulations while often offering specialized programs.
  
  

TLC (Traditional Learning Centre)

• A CBE alternative program offering a structured, teacher-led learning environment with clear expectations for academics and behaviour.

• Distinct features include school uniforms, consistent homework routines, mandatory French programming, and strong family commitment to structure, responsibility, and respect as core values of learning.

Montessori Program

• An alternative program type where students learn through self‑directed, hands‑on experiences within prepared environments that support intrinsic motivation and choice.

• Classrooms are often multi‑aged, encouraging leadership and collaboration, and instruction uses Montessori philosophy and materials while still engaging the Alberta Programs of Study.

Language & Academic Development

EAL (English as an Additional Language)

7. • Programming for students whose first language is not English.
     
     

LEAD (Literacy, English, and Academic Development)

7. • Specialized programming for English as Additional Language Learners who face additional challenges as a result of the circumstances of their migration (often from war-torn regions) and their lack of opportunity for prior schooling.
     
     

L & L (Language and Literacy)

7. • The Learning and Literacy (L&L) class provides educational programming for students in grades 4 to 9 who have been identified with Learning Disabilities impacting reading acquisition.

Language Programs

• Alternative language programs (K-12) where students learn in both English and a target language to achieve/aquire functional fluency. It focuses on academic, cognitive, and cultural development, with 50% or less of instruction in the target language. 

•  Chinese (Mandarin) Bilingual (K-9), Early French Immersion (K-12), German Bilingual (K-6), Late French Immersion (7-12), Spanish Bilingual (K-12)
  
  

Specialized & Support Programming

PLP (Paced Learning Program)

• The Paced Learning Program (PLP) provides educational programming for students in grades 4 to 12 who have been diagnosed as having a mild intellectual disability and below average to low average adaptive functioning (e.g., social, communication, practical daily living).
  
  

ALP (Adapted Learning Program)

• The Adapted Learning Program (ALP) provides educational programming for students in grades 4-12 with moderate cognitive disabilities and low to extremely low adaptive skills. ALP programming focuses on building foundational skills in functional academics, communication, social interaction, leisure skills, vocational skills and skills for self-regulation. The curriculum is modified to support the personalization of learning according to the unique strengths and needs of each student
  
  

EES / ES1 / ES2 (Enhanced Educational Supports)

• The Enhanced Educational Supports (EES) class provides educational programming for students in grades 1-6 with moderate to severe developmental disabilities. The EES class focuses on building foundational skills in functional academics, communication, social interaction, leisure skills, functional living skills, and skills for self-regulation 

GATE (Gifted and Talented Education)

• Programming for formally identified gifted learners.

• Alberta Education describes giftedness as exceptional performance and/or potential in learning rate, depth of knowledge, reasoning and problem-solving abilities when compared with others of their age, experience, and environment.  (Alberta Education, 2004).
  
  

Bridges

• The Bridges class provides educational programming for students in Grades 1-12 who present with complex and severe mental health challenges and overt, dysregulated behaviours significantly impacting their academic engagement and well-being.
  
  

CTF (Career and Technology Foundations)

• Grades 5–9

• CTF is an inquiry-based, hands-on, Program of Study for Grades 5 to 9 that focuses on essential skills common to occupational areas. ​