What's New - February 2007

Important Legislation for Teachers

Alberta Education, Policy and Legislation
http://www.edc.gov.ab.ca/reading/policy/

The Policy and Legislation portion of the Alberta Education web site provides resources to help educators understand the various policies and regulations that shape the work of the Department. Some of the key resources referred to on this portion of the site are described in more detail below.

• K-12 Learning System Policy, Regulations and Forms Manual
  http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/educationguide/pol-plan/polregs/toc.asp
  

  This revised Policy, Regulations and Forms Manual provides education stakeholders with a concise and complete legislative framework for education in Alberta. Policies are categorized as either "policy requirements" (Sections 1 and 2) or "information bulletins" (Section 3). The former are binding and require a school board to develop corresponding local policy or, by board motion, adopt provincial policy as board policy. The latter provide information that clarifies Alberta Education's position on a range of issues and do not require corresponding local policy.

  The Manual:

  1. identifies the legislative authority or statute;
  2. integrates legislation, regulations, policies and procedures; and
  3. cross-references other manuals, handbooks, and policies.

  Each policy is described in seven parts:

  1. Background (brief introduction including the history or rationale);
  2. Policy (a goal-oriented, generalized, philosophically-based policy statement that should guide future discretionary action);
  3. Statute (sections of the School Act or the Government Organization Act which apply to the policy);
  4. Regulations (laws, the authority for which is contained in the statute);
  5. Additional Definitions;
  6. Procedures (either "mandatory" or "discretionary" steps required to implement the policy); and
  7. References.

• Policy Documents
  http://www.edc.gov.ab.ca/reading/policy/PolicyDocuments.asp

  The policies that shape the Department's work include: Campus Alberta Policy Framework; First Nations, M¨¦tis and Inuit Education Policy Framework; and the Learning and Technology Policy Framework. Links to each of these policy frameworks as well as related strategies and reports are provided on this page.

• Teaching Quality Standard Applicable to the Provision of Basic Education in Alberta (Ministerial Order 016/97)
  http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/educationguide/pol-plan/polregs/adobe/421.pdf

  This Ministerial Order (pursuant to Section 25(1)(f) of the School Act) describes quality teaching as that which "occurs when teacher's ongoing analysis of the context [i.e., consideration of contextual variables such as student, regulatory, school, parent, societal, and teacher variables] and the teacher's decisions about which pedagogical knowledge and abilities to apply result in optimum learning by students."

  The Teaching Quality Standard (TQS) applies to teacher certification, professional development, supervision, and evaluation. The expectation is that all teachers will meet the TQS throughout their careers.

  The TQS is supported by descriptors of selected knowledge, skills and attributes (KSAs) appropriate to teachers at different stages of their careers (e.g., interim or permanent professional certification). These KSAs are intended to be used, with reasoned judgment, to determine whether the TQS is being met in a given context. For example, KSA (3)(b) for teachers with permanent certification states that teachers are to "understand the legislated, moral and ethical frameworks within which they work."

  For more information on Alberta's Legislation Framework, see http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/educationguide/pol-plan/polregs/legis.asp. To learn about other Ministerial Orders and directives (e.g., Goals and Standards Applicable to the Provision of Basic Education in Alberta), see Section 4 of the K-12 Learning System Policy, Regulations and Forms Manual at http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/educationguide/pol-plan/polregs/toc.asp.

• Teacher Growth, Supervision and Evaluation Policy
  http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/educationguide/pol-plan/polregs/215.asp

  The Teacher Growth, Supervision and Evaluation Policy aims to ensure that teachers' actions, judgments and decisions are in the best educational interests of students, and support optimum learning. School authorities, Early Childhood Services (ECS) operators, superintendents, principals and teachers are responsible for facilitating quality improvement through teachers' career-long professional growth.

  This particular policy states that "School authorities, ECS operators, superintendents, principals and teachers must work together to achieve the teaching quality standard [see above]. All teachers are expected to practice consistently in keeping with the standard."

• Excellence in Teaching Awards

http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/teaching/teacherAwards/

Alberta's many dedicated teachers inspire students and colleagues every day with their creative, innovative and effective teaching practices. For almost 20 years, the Excellence in Teaching Awards Program is one way that Albertans can show their appreciation.

Outstanding teachers or principals can be nominated for these awards by completing the nomination package found at http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/teaching/teacherAwards/ 2007_Nomination_Pkg.pdf.

A selection committee looks for specific examples of excellence in a variety of areas, including knowledge of subject matter, effectiveness with students, creative and innovative teaching practices, involvement with parents, and collaboration with colleagues.

Nomination forms are also available on the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards web site at http://www.teachingquality.ab.ca/eit/.

Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) / Queen's Printer, Alberta
http://www.canlii.org/ab/index_en.html / http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/index.cfm

The Canadian Legal Information Institute web site offers consolidated collections of Alberta statutes and regulations. A search of the collections using the word "teachers" resulted in a lengthy list of acts and regulations, the most important of which are itemized below.

The Alberta Queen's Printer web site (see http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/index.cfm) offers free online access to these same Alberta Acts, regulations and legislation-related materials. Web addresses for key regulations are also cited below. For a complete list of the regulations associated with the School Act, see http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/catalogue/catalog_results.cfm?frm_isbn=0779750772&search_by=link.

• Certification of Teachers Regulation
  http://www.canlii.org/ab/laws/regu/1999r.3/20061113/whole.html

  The Certification of Teachers Regulation (Alberta Regulation 3/99 - School Act) outlines the certification process for teachers in Alberta, including administrative matters, applications to the Registrar, requirements, appeals, fees, decisions, etc. This regulation can also be found on the Queen's Printer site at http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/documents/Regs/1999_003.cfm.

• Practice Review of Teachers Regulation
  http://www.canlii.org/ab/laws/regu/1999r.4/20060718/whole.html

  The Regulation provides Albertans with a process to make a complaint abut the unprofessional conduct of teachers who are not subject to the TPA and therefore not subject to the Alberta Teachers' Association's Code of Professional Conduct. Under the Regulation, charter school teachers, private school teachers and other individuals who hold a teaching certificate, but are not ATA members, will be subject to complaints of unprofessional conduct. For example, a teacher in a private or charter school found guilty of unprofessional conduct will be subject to disciplinary action, including a recommendation to the Minister to suspend or cancel the teacher's teaching certificate.

  The Regulation links the Teaching Quality Standard Ministerial Order and the knowledge, skills and attributes (KSAs) teachers are expected to meet in their teaching practices with the Practice Review of Teachers Regulation. The Regulation, therefore, provides a vehicle whereby any person may make a complaint about a teacher whose practices are alleged not to be in keeping with the expected standard and the KSAs needed to meet the standard.

• Private Schools Regulation
  http://www.canlii.org/ab/laws/regu/2000r.190/20061113/whole.html

  The Private Schools Regulation provides information about registered and accredited private schools as well as information of a more general nature. This regulation can also be found on the Queen's Printer site at http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/documents/Regs/2000_190.cfm?frm_isbn=0779750373.

• School Act
  http://www.canlii.org/ab/laws/sta/s-3/20061113/whole.html

  The School Act is an eleven part Act that describes the rights and responsibilities of various education stakeholders in a variety of educational contexts, including the services provided by the Department of Education. Specific regulations are articulated with respect to: students; schools; school boards; employment; appeals; finance; property; and the creation, dissolution and alteration of districts, divisions and boards including Francophone education regions. Information of a general (e.g., elections, petitions, judgments) and transitional nature are also provided. This act can also be found on the Queen's Printer site at http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/documents/Acts/s03.cfm and on the Alberta Education web site at http://www.edc.gov.ab.ca/reading/policy/regs/BasicLearning.asp.

• Superintendents of Schools Regulation
  http://www.canlii.org/ab/laws/regu/2003r.178/20060718/whole.html

  The Superintendent of Schools Regulation (Alberta Regulation 178/2003 - School Act) describes the qualifications required of superintendents, conditions related to Ministerial approval of an appointment or reappointment of a superintendent, and severance allowances. This regulation can also be found on the Queen's Printer site at http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/documents/Regs/2003_178.cfm?frm_isbn=077973727X.

• Teaching Profession Act
  http://www.canlii.org/ab/laws/sta/t-2/20061113/whole.html

  The Teaching Profession Act describes The Alberta Teachers' Association, its objectives, compulsory active membership and other membership options/classes, rights, bylaws, meetings, fees, reports, discipline, committees, complaints, investigations, hearings, suspensions, reinstatements and so on. This Act can also be found on the Queen's Printer site at http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/Documents/acts/T02.CFM.

Council on Alberta Teaching Standards (COATS)
http://www.teachingquality.ab.ca/

The Council provides advice and recommendations to the Minister on matters related to teacher certification; teacher preparation, induction and professional growth; practice review; excellence in teaching; and other matters of interest to the Minister. Its eleven-member board strives to foster, encourage and enhance partnerships within the education community to provide the best possible education for Alberta students.

The COATS web site describes the principles for developing Alberta's Teaching Quality Standard (i.e., Directive 4.2.1 - see http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/educationguide/pol-plan/polregs/421.asp); provides information about the Excellence in Teaching Awards; describes the history and development of the Practice Review of Teaching Regulation; and offers a monthly topical What's New item to help inform professional practice. As such, it is a helpful resource related to legislation regarding teaching quality standards.

The Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA)
http://www.teachers.ab.ca/

The ATA web site offers information across a range of topics including Enabling Acts and regulations and their implications for the teaching profession and the Association's members. A subset of the resources available on the site is described below.

• A Guide to Alberta's 26th Legislature
  http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Quick+Links/Publications/Other+Publications/

  This three-ring binder, available free of charge to members of the ATA, is a comprehensive publication that describes the operation of Alberta's legislature and government. It serves as a helpful resource to teachers wanting to understand more about the legislation.

• Code of Professional Conduct
  http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Albertas+Education+System/Teaching+in+Alberta/ Professional+Conduct/Code+of+Professional+Conduct.htm

  The ATA's Code of Professional Conduct stipulates minimum standards of professional conduct of teachers but is not an exhaustive list of such standards. It was approved by the 2004 Annual Representative Assembly pursuant to the Teaching Profession Act. The standards are outlined in relation to pupils, school authorities, colleagues and the profession. The code states that, "Unless exempted by legislation, any member of The Alberta Teachers' Association who is alleged to have violated the standards of the profession, including the provisions of the code, may be subject to a charge of unprofessional conduct under the bylaws of the Association."

• Professional Growth, Supervision and Evaluation
  http://www.teachers.ab.ca/About+the+ATA/Policy+and+Position+Papers/ Policy/Educational+Policy/Professional+Growth+Supervision+and+ Evaluation.htm

  The Association believes that the quality of instruction in schools can be improved by ensuring that teachers are evaluated according to the principles set out in the Association's policy on professional growth, supervision and evaluation (see link above). In addition to the long-range policy and current directives described in the policy, the ATA provides services to individual members (teachers and principals) as well as to schools and local associations related to teacher evaluation.

• Teacher Professional Growth Plans
  http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Professional+Development/ Teacher+Professional+Growth+Plans/

  To support teachers' continuous efforts to develop their professional practice, the ATA offers a four part self-paced tutorial that guides their review of provincial policy regulations as well as their reflection on their professional practice, development of their growth plan, and preparation for a successful review. This Teacher Professional Growth Plan tutorial can be found at the link above.

• Teacher Qualifications Service
  http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Salary+and+Benefit/ Teacher+Salary+Qualifications.htm

  This page describes how the Teacher Qualifications Service operates and contains the principles it uses to assess teacher qualifications for salary purposes.