Features

The 2010 Provincial Budget will hold the line on education spending. While deep cuts are avoided, the budget does not provide for salary increases. (Click article title for more information)

The Spring Professional Development Area Conference (PDAC) is scheduled for April 23(eve) - 24(day) 2010 at Barnett House in Edmonton. Please note that the conference will commence on Friday evening and during the day on Saturday, and will not be two full days. Invited guests will be receiving memos in March with more details.

Arbitrator Andrew Sims ruled that teachers working in the province’s public, separate and francophone schools should receive an increase amounting to 5.99 per cent, a reflection of the average increase in the weekly earnings of Albertans from 2008 to 2009. (Click article title for more information.)

Speak Out – the Alberta Student Engagement Initiative provides an opportunity for students to discuss the future of education in Alberta. The 2nd Annual Speak Out Conference, to be held in Edmonton May 14–16, 2010, brings teachers and students together to discuss ways to better support one another in their schools. (Click article title for more information)

The Association has sent an response to Alberta Education regarding a draft Technology in Education Policy. This initial response was developed via policy positions of the Association, based on contemporary educational research and supported by an existing position paper that touches on many of the issues addressed in the department’s draft policy. (Click article title for more information)

Association instructors facilitate a variety of workshops for school and district-based professional development events, at teachers’ conventions and at specialist council conferences. We are seeking outstanding classroom teachers representing all grade levels and subject areas from across the province. The three-year appointments for these assignments will begin in August 2010 and the deadline for applications is January 25, 2010. (Click on article title for more information)

The Association has just released a synthesis of its recent research into teaching and learning conditions in Alberta’s schools. Follow the link to learn about the challenges now facing public education and about what can be done to address areas of concern.

The Alberta Teachers’ Association and the Government of Alberta have agreed to go forward with a single arbitration process to settle the issue of teacher salary increases for the 2009/10 school year. (Click article title for more information...) 

In light of Alberta Education’s request for submissions on the School Act review, the Association has provided a submission based on its established policy. (Click article title for more information...)

The Minister of Education is encouraging school boards to increase teacher salaries by 4.82% in 2009/10 even though Statistics Canada Data indicates an increase of 5.99% is in order. Click the title to read about the issue and the ATA’s response.