Alberta introduces Education Act

By Chantelle de Jonge Chestermere-Strathmore MLA

Every parent wants to see their child succeed in school. Whether it’s learning to read their first book or solving their first math problem, these early years form the foundation for a lifetime of learning. Our government understands this, and we’re taking important steps to make sure every student in Alberta gets the help they need to develop those essential skills.

Classrooms today are more complex than ever. Many students face a range of learning needs, behavioral challenges, and language barriers. That’s why Alberta’s government is proposing amendments to the Education Act that will make early reading and math screenings mandatory for all students in kindergarten to Grade 3. These screenings are simple activities that show how a child is doing in core areas. If a student needs extra help, parents will know before small gaps turn into bigger challenges.

Under these new rules, schools will conduct screenings and share results with parents. This keeps families informed and involved in their child’s learning. Schools will also make results available to the Ministry of Education and Childcare to help the government identify trends and guide future classroom supports. By putting these requirements into law, we are ensuring consistency and accountability in schools across the province, so every student gets the same opportunity to succeed.

Our plan to improve education builds on years of investments to support the needs of Alberta students. Since 2021, our government has provided more than $92 million to strengthen foundational reading and math skills. Budget 2025 adds another $11 million, growing to $15 million by 2027-28. This is funding that will help teachers deliver targeted supports and give schools the tools they need to help students.

We know that the recent labour disruption was incredibly challenging for parents, students, and teachers. To give classrooms time to recover, Alberta’s government has cancelled the January 2026 diploma exams and Grade 9 Provincial Achievement Tests. These decisions allow students and teachers to focus on learning and rebuilding momentum. Grade 12 students who want to write their diploma exams can still do so on a voluntary basis in April or June 2026. Those who don’t complete the diploma exam will receive their school-awarded mark as their final grade, with no impact on graduation or post-secondary applications.

These changes all share the same goal, helping students learn, grow, and succeed. Every student in Alberta deserves the chance to reach their potential, and our government is committed to giving them the strong start they deserve.

As we continue working to give Alberta families the best possible opportunities, our government is also strengthening other essential services that support their well-being beyond the classroom. A strong education system goes hand in hand with a strong health system, and that’s why we’re making important changes to ensure Albertans can access efficient, high-quality care wherever they live.

Alberta is centralizing key support functions through a new shared services organization, Health Shared Services (HSS), to make the health system more efficient and reduce duplication across agencies. By bringing together services like IT, finance, and human resources under one roof, HSS will free up health agencies to focus on delivering care, improving coordination across the system, and ensuring resources are used more effectively for Albertans.

As of Nov. 1, the organization is officially in place to support Acute Care Alberta, Primary Care Alberta, Recovery Alberta, Assisted Living Alberta, the provincial health corporations for cancer care, EHS and organ donation and transplantation, as well as acute service providers like Alberta Health Services, Covenant Health, and Lamont Health.

Operating independently but in close collaboration with each agency, HSS will provide essential services, coordinate system-wide activities and ensure accountability through strong governance.

As always, please feel free to reach out to my office with your feedback and questions (Chestermere.Strathmore@assembly.ab.ca).

(Chantelle de Jonge is the MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore and the Parliamentary Secretary for Affordability and Utilities)