2Learn Education Society
2Learn Education Society is a not-for-profit society that provides inservice, opportunities for tele-collaboration, online tools and resources, and mentorship for Alberta teachers through a provincial cascade (teach-the-teacher) model. Their stated mission is “to initiate, advocate and share with educators technology-enriched teaching, learning and leadership options of tomorrow, empowered by unique alliances with educational and community partners.” A core provincial team works with over 250 teacher-leaders to develop online tele-collaborative projects. The core team strives to provide information, build knowledge, share insights and inspire audiences through various keynotes, presentations, and workshops. More information about their professional development program can be found at http://www.2learn.ca/mapset/tlcpd/2learnpd.html.

Alberta Assessment Consortium (AAC)
The Alberta Assessment Consortium (AAC) was formed in 1993 as a not-for-profit equal partnership of education organizations. AAC is dedicated to enhancing student learning through classroom assessments that both increase student confidence and enable them to effectively demonstrate what they know and can do.

Current members include fifty-nine Alberta school boards, several education councils and school boards in other provinces/territories and international locations, four Alberta universities and colleges, a variety of private and charter schools, and the Alberta Teachers' Association.

The AAC is committed to:

• developing a broad range of assessment materials that are directly tied to the Alberta curriculum, based on grade level standards, and that will enhance student learning;
• supporting teachers by providing opportunities for quality professional development;
• facilitating networking and the sharing of knowledge, skills, and expertise; and
• establishing liaisons with other agencies.

Alberta Catholic Schools Trustee Association (ACSTA)
The stated mission of the Alberta Catholic School Trustees' Association (ACSTA) is to be “the voice of Catholic Trustees in Alberta and the Northwest Territories.” ACSTA also states their commitment “to preserving and enhancing the rights of Catholics to education based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” Currently, the ACSTA represents 23 Catholic anglophone and francophone school boards and 149 trustees, who serve more than 127,000 students in 340 schools.

Alberta Home and School Councils' Association (AHSCA)
The Alberta School Councils' Association (ASCA), a not-for-profit society governed by a volunteer board of directors, is the provincial association for parents on school councils. The ASCA states that they are committed “to enhancing student success through meaningful involvement [advocating for] positive change in public education from the parent perspective.” They provide programs, resources and services to promote and support school council effectiveness.

The objectives of the association are as follows:

• involve parents as meaningful partners in all sectors of public education;
• provide resources, services and opportunities to enable parents to confidently advocate for their children;
• develop advocacy opportunities; and
• foster cooperation among and provide support to parents in urban and rural areas on shared issues.

Alberta Regional Learning Consortia
The stated purpose of the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia (ARPDC), consisting of seven regional consortia, is the promotion of “student learning and achievement; school improvement; and parental engagement in the educational process through the provision of effective professional development services, at the local, regional and provincial levels.” Their stated goals are as follows:

• facilitate professional development which supports the effective implementation of: The Alberta Education business plan; Jurisdiction and school education plans; and School Council priorities;
• facilitate professional development which supports effective implementation of curricula, including instruction, assessment and student learning outcomes;
• assist stakeholders through coordinating, brokering, and acting as a referral centre to facilitate stakeholder access to professional development resources;
• deliver professional development in response to needs identified by stakeholders;
• promote and support the development of professional development leadership by capacity; and
• provide all stakeholders with access to professional development at a reasonable cost.

Members include the Calgary Regional Consortium, the Central Alberta Regional Consortium, the Consortium provincial francophone pour le perfectionnement professionnel, the Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium, the Learning Network, the Northwest Regional Learning Consortium, and the Southern Alberta PD Consortium.

Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA)
The Alberta School Boards Association's (ASBA) is a province-wide organization of locally elected school boards that have a mandate to provide leadership that focuses on continuous improvement of the public education system. Their mission is to “promote excellence in public education.” Their vision is to

• be a respected and influential provincial association of locally elected school boards;
• support publicly-elected school boards in their efforts to ensure students in Alberta have the opportunity to reach their highest potential; and
• be the leading voice advocating for public education in Alberta.

To learn more about the Association’s strategic plan for September 2008 to August 2011 see http://www.asba.ab.ca/policy_framework/downloads/pdf/strat_plan_08_11.pdf.

Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA)
The Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) is Alberta's professional teacher organization whose mission is stated as follows: "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 members."

The objectives of the ATA are set out in the Teaching Profession Act and are stated below:

1. to advance and promote the cause of education in Alberta;
2. to improve the teaching profession
   1. by promoting and supporting recruitment and selection practices that ensure capable candidates for teacher education,
   2. by promoting and supporting adequate programs of preservice preparation, internship and certification,
   3. by promoting the establishment of working conditions that will make possible the best level of professional service,
   4. by organizing and supporting groups that tend to improve the knowledge and skill of teachers,
   5. by meetings, publications, research and other activities designed to maintain and improve the competence of teachers, and
   6. by advising, assisting, protecting and disciplining members in the discharge of their professional duties and relationships;
3. to arouse and increase public interest in the importance of education and public knowledge of the aims of education, financial support for education, and other education matters;
4. to cooperate with other organizations and bodies in Canada and elsewhere having the same or like aims and objects.

Several ATA specialist councils foster professional development among teachers. These volunteer-based councils organize conferences, produce publications, offer regional workshops and seminars, and provide members with opportunities to share ideas and gather new information. The ATA supports the work of these councils through financial grants, publication and website hosting services, and administrative advice. For more information about ATA’s specialist councils , see http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Professional%20Development/Specialist%20Councils/Pages/Index.aspx.

The ATA website offers additional information about:

• the Association;
• teacher professional development;
• salary and benefits;
• member assistance;
• issues;
• advocacy and action resources; and
• resources for teachers, administrators, student members and parents.

Association of Independent Schools and Colleges in Alberta (AISCA)
Founded in 1958, the Association of Independent Schools and Colleges in Alberta (AISCA) defends and promotes the right of parents to determine the education of their children, citing their role as “[creating and maintaining] the social and political climate in which parents can carry out their educational responsibilities with the assurance that their initiatives are compatible with the legitimate concerns of their communities and Alberta society.” AISCA informs its members of political trends and developments, and of ways in which they can build acceptance and understanding of parental rights and duties within communities. Their stated objectives include:

• supporting and encouraging high standards of education in the independent schools and colleges of the Province of Alberta;
• fostering public understanding of the aims, ideals, philosophies and services of the independent schools and colleges of the Province of Alberta;
• fostering understanding and co-operation among Alberta's independent schools and colleges, other educational institutions in Alberta, the Government of Alberta, and similar associations in other provinces of Canada;
• promoting the principles including but not limited to parental rights, the contributions of distinctive educational philosophies in a pluralistic society, democratic freedom through equal educational opportunity, educational choice and respect for diversity; and
• promoting the general welfare of this Society and of independent schools and colleges in the Province of Alberta and in Canada.

Association of School Business Officials of Alberta (ASBOA)
The Association of School Business Officials of Alberta (ASBOA) is a professional association whose stated role is to “enhance the professionalism of school business management, to improve the performance of the public jurisdictions they work for, and to assist administrators and the school jurisdictions to deal effectively with the changing environment in which schools operate. Their goals are to “improve efficiency in each area of school business management; to ensure wise expenditure of taxpayers’ monies; and to render prompt, friendly service to students in … schools.” ASBOA works in partnership with Alberta Education as well as the other educational partners to provide advice on the issues facing education.

College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS)
The College of Alberta School Superintendents is an association of school superintendents and other certificated educators who work in the central offices of school boards. CASS subscribes, in general, to the educational aims of Alberta Education and other organizations interested in education in Alberta, however, on occasion they may promote educational objectives at variance with these organizations.

The Association has put forward several statements of educational policy in the following eight broad categories: 1. Leadership; 2. Governance; 3. Finance; 4. Educational Program; 5. Personnel/Certification; 6. Supervision and Evaluation; 7. Facilities; and 8. Association Concerns. CASS has also identified several position statements related to a focus on students, excellence in the classroom, curriculum, assessment and accountability, governance, technology, integration of services, the role of the teacher, and funding. See http://www.cass.ab.ca/policies_and_practices for more information.

Computers for Schools (CFS)
Co-founded in 1993 by Industry Canada and the Telephone Pioneers, Computers for Schools (CFS) is a Canada-wide initiative providing refurbished computers, computer equipment and software, at little or no cost, to Canadian schools, public libraries, and non-profit learning organizations.

The "delivery agencies" for the CFS program in each province are independent non-profit organizations. In Alberta that organization is the Alberta Computers for Schools Association. The Association's Board of Directors comprises representatives of Alberta Education, TELUS Community Ambassadors, the Alberta School Boards Association, the Alberta Home and School Councils' Association, TELUS Corporation, the Royal Bank, the Treaty Seven Tribal Council, the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA), Microsoft Canada, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), the College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS), Stantec Corporation, and Dell Canada.

Alberta has five computer refurbishing/distribution centres including the Earnest Manning High School, Elbow Park TELUS Exchange, CFS Edmonton, Lethbridge Community Network and the Piikani Nation Secondary School.

Alberta Computers for Schools distributes about 14,000 computers free-of-charge annually with the exception of transportation costs and Windows XP licenses ($10 each).

CAREERS: The Next Generation (CAREERS)
Incorporated in 1997 to help advance the career development of Alberta’s youth, CAREERS: The Next Generation is an industry-driven private/public partnership that brings together industry, educators, government, communities, and students to meet the needs of youth employability and skilled labour shortages. They work with various groups to develop and deliver a variety of programs to support trades and technologies (e.g., Registered Apprenticeship Program, Forestry Youth Education Initiative), health services, and Aboriginal youth. These activities help students make the link between their classroom education and their future workplace careers, enable students to explore career options through workplace internships, support career education by helping students understand the real world of work, and promote student awareness in specific fields where opportunities exist for future jobs.

Council on Alberta Teaching Standards (COATS)
Established in 1985 by Ministerial Order, the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards (COATS) has a mandate to provide advice and recommendations to the Minister on matters related to teaching including: teacher certification; teacher preparation, induction and professional growth; practice review; excellence in teaching; and other matters of interest to the Minister. The Council consists of five practicing teachers and one member from each of the following organizations: Alberta Education, ASBA, ATA, CASS, the Universities Coordinating Council, and the general public. Together, these Council members work to foster, encourage and enhance partnerships within the education community to provide the best possible education for Alberta students.

Galileo Educational Network Association
An education-business partnership that provides onsite and online supports for teachers, administrators and school jurisdiction personnel in implementing ICT and that contributes to current research.

Public School Boards Association of Alberta (PSBAA)
The Public School Boards Association of Alberta (PSBAA) is a voluntary non-profit society whose thirty-four members include those school jurisdictions that have the responsibility to educate most of the public school students in Alberta (see the member list). The Association’s stated mission is “to ensure the continuation and constant improvement of a universally accessible system of public education, which is locally governed, student centred, and challenging.” Their stated goals is “to provide constructive leadership – represented by effective strategies, advocacy and communication – and to work with others, wherever possible, for the good of public education.” The four objectives of PSBAA are briefly outlined below:

• promote public school education over other means of education, favour inclusive education, and encourage a model of civil democracy.
• promote high standards and constant improvement of the public education system, including as a good place for students and employees to work.
• promote the role of school trustees as leaders for public education and the community, and promote leadership development among school trustees.
• promote public understanding of, and a commitment to public school education as unique, valuable, and attractive for students and for the community.

The gathering and sharing of information, and the encouragement of dialogue about public school education are secondary objectives of the PSBAA.

Teacher Preparation Institutions in Alberta

To teach in Alberta’s ECS-12 education system, all teachers must hold valid teaching authority prior to commencement of employment with a school authority. The Teacher Development and Certification Branch of Alberta Education is responsible for the evaluation of credentials and issuance of certification for teachers in Alberta. (Important Note: The Teacher Qualification Service (TQS) of the Alberta Teacher's Association or International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) do not determine eligibility for Alberta teacher certification.)

Prior to commencement of employment in the Alberta school system (public, separate, private, charter, francophone, and band schools); a teacher must hold an Interim Professional Certificate or other valid Alberta teaching authority. Several Alberta institutions offer teacher preparation programs, including but not limited to the following:

Canadian University College Concordia University College King’s University College St. Mary’s University College

University of Lethbridge University of Alberta University of Alberta – Faculte Saint Jean University of Calgary

For a complete listing, search the Edinfo section of the Alberta Learning Information System (ALIS) web site