The new, draft Alberta K-6 curriculum, which was unveiled by Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange in March 2021 has been met with criticism from the Alberta Teachers Association, school districts, and parents.
Local school divisions are currently considering whether to pilot the curriculum, in whole or in part, as feedback from Albertans continues to come in via the online survey.
“At this time, Prairie Land will critically and systemically investigate this document in its entirety. We want to make sure that as a school division Prairie Land collectively finds our spot at the ministry table in an effort to provide intentional, accurate, and meaningful feedback,” said Prairie Land School Division Superintendent Cam McKeage.
He noted the school division has a “working group of 17 K-6 teachers” who will investigate and review the draft curriculum. Feedback will be presented to Alberta Education following this review to guide PLSD’s “actions and position” regarding piloting the curriculum.
“As a public jurisdiction, we do have concern with this document and by intentionally exposing this draft document, we are exercising our due diligence and opportunity to voice our concern to Alberta Education before we consider our next steps with the piloting phase,” McKeage says.
Locally, Christ the Redeemer Catholic School Division will also be reviewing the curriculum before making any decisions regarding piloting.
Christ the Redeemer Superintendent Scott Morrison told the Mail, “Christ the Redeemer is considering piloting the math curriculum.”
Morrison noted changes to the elementary curriculum have been in discussions at the provincial level for some time, but a complete overhaul will be a “huge undertaking.”
Should Christ the Redeemer proceed with the pilot, Morrison says teachers will be given the opportunity to participate and given two weeks of professional development during the summer to help them prepare for the new material. The decision to participate in the pilot will be driven by a focus on students and the benefits or disadvantages to their learning imposed by the draft curriculum.
Feedback on the curriculum will also be forwarded to Alberta Education.

A local man received four years in jail after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for trafficking and possession of prohibited weapons.
Victor Foley appeared in provincial court in Drumheller to plead guilty to several charges on Friday, April 16.
On March 16, 2020, police were called to a suspicious vehicle parked on a lease road near Red Deer. A silver handgun was on the dashboard. Inside the vehicle Foley, and another individual were sleeping. The vehicle was not related to the occupants.
Police seized an assortment of drugs and trafficking paraphernalia including fentanyl, as well as a handgun, two sawed-off shotguns, ammunition, a spring-loaded knife, brass knuckles, and hand-made tazers.
He was also in breach of court orders by being in a motor vehicle without the owners and being in possession of identity documents.
Foley is currently serving a three-year sentence at the Drumheller Institution, which commenced in October of last year that included possession of drugs for the purposes of trafficking.
Judge Fraser agreed with a joint submission from the Crown and defence for a four-year global disposition, consecutive to his current sentence.