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ATA Responds to Draft Curriculum with Plans to Undertake Independent Review 

Release Date 2021 03 29

Today’s release of the long-awaited K–12 draft curriculum kicks off an extensive and in-depth evaluation by the true curriculum experts—teachers. The Alberta Teachers’ Association is launching a comprehensive engagement project with active teachers to gather feedback on the proposed curriculum.

“Teachers understand the readiness of young students for different pieces of content and how to bring curriculum to life in the classroom. Our Association and its members are best positioned to provide advice on the successful implementation of new curriculum. To develop a curriculum without incorporating a grassroots, classroom-based understanding of how students learn could set our students up for failure.”

—Jason Schilling, ATA president

The project will feature an online questionnaire open to all teachers and principals in Alberta’s public education system, including hundreds of elementary subject and grade-level specialists. A number of round-table discussions with subject-matter and curriculum development experts will follow in late spring. The ATA will provide updates and a final report to the government and the public throughout the process. 

Schilling also has serious concerns about the minister’s expectations for piloting curriculum in the 2021/22 school year. 

“We still have a lot of pandemic ahead of us, and our current research shows that 9 out of 10 Alberta teachers are expressing concern about piloting a new curriculum during these uncertain times. What was released today is barely a plan, and certainly not a plan for success.”

Jason Schilling, ATA president

A media link to the questionnaire can be found here

The Alberta Teachers’ Association, as the professional organization of teachers, promotes and advances public education, safeguards standards of professional practice and serves as the advocate for its 46,000 members.