Some Alberta parents who serve on school councils say the provincial government is trying to circumvent and silence them.
In the past two years, the United Conservative Party government has all but eliminated nearly $650,000 annual grant funding to the Alberta School Councils' Association (ASCA) – an organization that trains and represents volunteers serving on councils.
The cutback comes after the organization's membership criticized government policies, including the proposed new draft curriculum, education funding and how the province has managed COVID-19 in schools.
"Many parents and many of our members are left wondering if it's because of their advocacy positions that the entirety of the association is being penalized," said ASCA president Brandi Rai.
The organization applied for a $170,000 grant this year. The education ministry turned them down, saying the government doesn't fund non-profit groups' operations.
Instead, they offered ASCA a $15,000 grant to do a project on learning loss during the pandemic. This, after government funding made up the bulk of ASCA's revenue for at least 15 years.
Rai isn't sure if the organization will accept the money offered. She said after laying off some staff, ASCA is already stretched thin with their existing work.
"Our organization refuses to be a check box," Rai said.
They have raised membership fees, and now charge parents for training courses that were once free.
In August, Education Minister Adriana LaGrange announced the government would spend $1 million to send $500 directly to every school council in Alberta. A news release at the time said it was to help prepare volunteers for the work, and to "strengthen engagement and the parental voice in their schools."
Although councils can spend the money on professional development, Rai says they can't spend it on ASCA membership fees or to attend their annual conference.
Last fall, LaGrange also created a new minister's parent advisory council, composed of 40 volunteers from across the province.
Rai said it shows the minister only wants to hear from hand-picked parents on topics she chooses.
Parents worry school councils will be diminished
Alberta's Education Act requires all public schools have a council.
It's not a fundraising group. Parents involved review the school budget, look at academic results, and consult on school goals and policies.
Last year, about 83 per cent of the province's 1,500 school councils were ASCA members. They include public, Catholic and charter schools.
Red Deer parent Wendy Fath has served on her youngest son's school councils for seven years.
She said, at first, most parents don't understand what councils do. She credits ASCA for training thousands of volunteers for the work and organizing networking events.
Fath said the $500 government grant to each council is a "small shiny thing to take away from the big thing that we're losing."
She worries parents won't get adequate training, and become disengaged and disempowered.
© Submitted by Meagan Parisian Meagan Parisian is a Red Deer parent of three children. She's the president of the school council at Ecole Barrie Wilson Elementary in Red Deer.
Meagan Parisian, a parent of three and president of the Ecole Barrie Wilson school council in Red Deer, said the government is cherry-picking parents to hear from.
"We don't need a parent advisory committee," she said. "We have ASCA."
Minister LaGrange's press secretary, Katherine Stavropoulos, says ASCA doesn't represent all parents.
"Alberta's government is proud to expand opportunities to engage directly with parents," she said.
Stavropoulos said the advisory council isn't a replacement for ASCA, but a way to reach different parents.
She said the $500 grants reinforce the government's commitment to parent councils.
Rai said the cuts have left ASCA in a "dire" position, but it's not dead yet.
"I think that they anticipated that we would go away," she said. "But we've been here for 90 years, and if we need to look different for a few years while we rally, and regroup, we will. But we will be here long past this sitting government."
Meagan Parisian, a parent of three and president of the Ecole Barrie Wilson school council in Red Deer, said the government is cherry-picking parents to hear from.
"We don't need a parent advisory committee," she said. "We have ASCA."
Minister LaGrange's press secretary, Katherine Stavropoulos, says ASCA doesn't represent all parents.
"Alberta's government is proud to expand opportunities to engage directly with parents," she said.
Stavropoulos said the advisory council isn't a replacement for ASCA, but a way to reach different parents.
She said the $500 grants reinforce the government's commitment to parent councils.
Rai said the cuts have left ASCA in a "dire" position, but it's not dead yet.
"I think that they anticipated that we would go away," she said. "But we've been here for 90 years, and if we need to look different for a few years while we rally, and regroup, we will. But we will be here long past this sitting government."
Alberta announces advisory group to help roll out new K-6 curriculum subjects in fall
The Alberta government says work by its K-6 Curriculum Implementation Advisory Group is already underway to help shape how portions of a new K-6 curriculum will be rolled out in the fall.
The Alberta government says work by its K-6 Curriculum Implementation Advisory Group is already underway to help shape how portions of a new K-6 curriculum will be rolled out in the fall.
© Provided by Edmonton Journal Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education, speaks about the draft K-6 curriculum during a press conference at the McDougall Centre in Calgary on Monday, December 13, 2021.
In a news release Thursday, the government announced the group, meeting monthly until June, will provide recommendations to the government on timing, preparing the education system, and classroom supports.
It comes after Education Minister Adriana LaGrange announced in December the government would delay some of the most controversial subjects of its draft curriculum, including social studies, while new drafts, expected in the spring, could be developed.
Beginning in September, sections on K-6 English language arts and literature, physical education and wellness, and mathematics will be taught in classrooms, while remaining subjects will undergo updates and be piloted in classrooms beginning in fall 2022, before being rolled out province-wide for the 2023 school year.
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Education Minister Adriana LaGrange said in a statement the government aims to make piloting and implementation manageable for teachers and students.
“Alberta’s government has been listening to all input from Albertans about the draft K-6 curriculum review process,” LaGrange said.
Members of the 17-member panel, some of whom remain anonymous so they “do not become targets of online harassment,” include Education Ministry officials, representatives from the Alberta School Boards Association and College of Alberta School Superintendents, and three teacher representatives.
The group’s work will be confidential, and won’t involve reviewing the content of the curriculum or making recommendations about funding.
At a Thursday virtual news conference, Alberta Teachers’ Association president Jason Schilling said teacher involvement on the panel is woefully inadequate, even though teachers will be the ones responsible for implementing the curriculum and delivering lessons — not school boards or superintendents.
“There are more members of government than there are people working in classrooms today,” said Schilling, who added he would have liked to see at least 50 per cent of the group made up of teachers.
He repeated calls for the government to halt implementing the curriculum until its content is significantly improved, noting there are still outstanding questions and concerns from teachers about content and resources for subject areas moving ahead in the fall.
“To implement this during this time when the system is already so stressed, just seems to be a huge mistake to do it this quickly,” said Schilling.
Schilling noted the ATA has not seen transparency from the government about feedback it’s received on curriculum development.
“This government is quick to say they’ve consulted with teachers, but the engagement that has been done so far lacks authenticity, and the advice is routinely ignored.”
lijohnson@postmedia.com
twitter.com/reportrix
In a news release Thursday, the government announced the group, meeting monthly until June, will provide recommendations to the government on timing, preparing the education system, and classroom supports.
It comes after Education Minister Adriana LaGrange announced in December the government would delay some of the most controversial subjects of its draft curriculum, including social studies, while new drafts, expected in the spring, could be developed.
Beginning in September, sections on K-6 English language arts and literature, physical education and wellness, and mathematics will be taught in classrooms, while remaining subjects will undergo updates and be piloted in classrooms beginning in fall 2022, before being rolled out province-wide for the 2023 school year.
The Portable Heater That Has Taken The World By StormSEE MORESponsored by ALPHA HEATER
Education Minister Adriana LaGrange said in a statement the government aims to make piloting and implementation manageable for teachers and students.
“Alberta’s government has been listening to all input from Albertans about the draft K-6 curriculum review process,” LaGrange said.
Members of the 17-member panel, some of whom remain anonymous so they “do not become targets of online harassment,” include Education Ministry officials, representatives from the Alberta School Boards Association and College of Alberta School Superintendents, and three teacher representatives.
The group’s work will be confidential, and won’t involve reviewing the content of the curriculum or making recommendations about funding.
At a Thursday virtual news conference, Alberta Teachers’ Association president Jason Schilling said teacher involvement on the panel is woefully inadequate, even though teachers will be the ones responsible for implementing the curriculum and delivering lessons — not school boards or superintendents.
“There are more members of government than there are people working in classrooms today,” said Schilling, who added he would have liked to see at least 50 per cent of the group made up of teachers.
He repeated calls for the government to halt implementing the curriculum until its content is significantly improved, noting there are still outstanding questions and concerns from teachers about content and resources for subject areas moving ahead in the fall.
“To implement this during this time when the system is already so stressed, just seems to be a huge mistake to do it this quickly,” said Schilling.
Schilling noted the ATA has not seen transparency from the government about feedback it’s received on curriculum development.
“This government is quick to say they’ve consulted with teachers, but the engagement that has been done so far lacks authenticity, and the advice is routinely ignored.”
lijohnson@postmedia.com
twitter.com/reportrix
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