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Highlights from the Legislature

No decision on public education exemptions—Blackett

Shelley Svidal, ATA News

The spring sitting of the Alberta legislature continues, with education issues surfacing regularly in question period.  ­Below are highlights of some of the exchanges that took place April 14–23.

Special-Needs Education Funding

April 22—Wayne Cao (PC—Calgary-Fort) asked Minister of Education Dave Hancock what the government is doing to ensure that students with severe special needs receive the resources necessary to enable them to learn and reach their potential. Hancock replied that Setting the Direction for Special Education in Alberta, which will culminate in a conference in June 2009, will help the government define a new policy framework and funding formula for special education for implementation in 2010. Cao asked Hancock what the government is doing in the interim to ensure that the learning needs of students with special needs are being met. Hancock replied that school boards are obligated to ensure that students receive the educational opportunities they require. He added that, in the interim, the government would be happy to examine the situation of boards that believe they have students who are not being funded under the current formula.

April 22—Harry Chase (LIB—Calgary-Varsity) asked Minister Hancock to justify the government’s decision to invest less than half of what British Columbia invests in support for students with severe special needs. Hancock reiterated that Setting the Direction for Special Education in Alberta is ongoing. Noting the need to move from a medical to a needs-based model of special education, he pointed out that the government is currently overfunding in the area. Chase asked Hancock whether the government expects Calgary’s 1,000 students with special needs, their parents and their teachers to put their lives on hold until Setting the Direction has concluded. Hancock replied that the government is funding twice as many students with special needs than are eligible to be funded under the current policy framework. Chase asked Hancock whether the government expects Calgary School District No. 19 and Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 1 to rob other programs to pay for students with severe special needs because the government refuses to recognize 337 of them. Hancock replied that, in September 2008, the government had provided a $30 million increase in special education funding. He added that, with its $35 million operating surplus, Calgary School District No. 19 should not have to rob other programs.

Public Education Exemptions

April 15—Laurie Blakeman (LIB—Edmonton-Centre) asked Minister of Culture and Community Spirit Lindsay Blackett whether, under proposed amendments to the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act, any restrictions would be placed on parents’ right to exempt their children from curriculum that runs contrary to their religious beliefs. Blackett replied that government caucus had not yet made a decision regarding the proposed amendments. Blakeman asked Blackett where sexual orientation appears in the curriculum. Blackett replied that, as a parent, he does not believe that sexual orientation appears in the curriculum. Blakeman asked Blackett why he is contemplating amendments to the human rights act when the government’s goal is to give direction to school boards and the curriculum. Blackett replied that, since his election in March 2008, the official opposition had not asked any questions about including sexual orientation in the human rights act as a prohibited ground of discrimination. Blakeman asked Blackett if he was crazy. Blackett responded by calling Blakeman a “one-trick pony.”

School Capital Construction

April 22—Neil Brown (PC—Calgary-Nose Hill) asked Minister Hancock how, given that none of Calgary School District No. 19’s requests for school construction and modernization were approved in Budget 2009, the government expects the school jurisdiction to eliminate its backlog. Hancock replied that Calgary will receive 15 new schools or 10,000 new spaces by 2013 through the public–private partnership project. Brown asked Hancock how many new schools would be funded in Calgary in 2009/10. Hancock replied that Calgary, which is in “one of the best positions in the province,” probably cannot handle any more than 15 new schools. Brown asked Hancock whether the government would ensure that Calgary School District No. 19 receives the funding necessary to bring its maintenance standards up to par. Hancock replied that he would be happy to entertain Brown’s question during debate on the estimates of Alberta Education in Committee of Supply on April 29. The minister suggested that Calgary School District No. 19 look at allocating some of its $35 million operating surplus to priority areas.

Library Services

April 16—Naresh Bhardwaj (PC—Edmonton-Ellerslie) asked Minister Hancock how the government plans to respond to a recommendation of the MLA Committee on the Future of Public Library Service in Alberta to “[a]ctively find ways for ­public libraries and schools to work together on student supports, co-location, staffing, literacy, and sharing of resources, including videoconferencing.” Hancock replied that he actively encourages school boards to co-locate schools with other public institutions, especially libraries. He suggested that student identification cards could double as library cards.

Transcripts of education related debate
A transcript of education-related debate is available on the Association’s website at www.teachers.ab.ca under Alberta’s Education System, Eye on Education in Alberta, Highlights from the Assembly. The status of bills and motions of interest to the Association is tracked at Alberta’s Education System, Eye on Education in Alberta, Bills and Motions, 2009.

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