Schedule of Learning Outcomes for Students Receiving Home Education Programs That Do Not Follow the Alberta Programs of Study

1 A basic education must provide students with a solid core program including language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.

2 Students are expected to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will prepare them for life after high school. A basic education will allow students to

(a) read for information, understanding and enjoyment,
(b) write and speak clearly, accurately and appropriately for the context,
(c) use mathematics to solve problems in business, science and daily life situations,
(d) understand the physical world, ecology and the diversity of life,
(e) understand the scientific method, the nature of science and technology and their application to daily life,
(f) know the history and geography of Canada and have a general understanding of world history and geography,
(g) understand Canada’s political, social and economic systems within a global context,
(h) respect the cultural diversity, the religious diversity and the common values of Canada,
(i) demonstrate desirable personal characteristics such as respect, responsibility, fairness, honesty, caring, loyalty and commitment to democratic ideals,
(j) recognize the importance of personal well-being and appreciate how family and others contribute to that well-being,
(k) know the basic requirements of an active, healthful lifestyle,
(l) understand and appreciate literature, the arts and the creative process,
(m) research an issue thoroughly and evaluate the credibility and reliability of information sources,
(n) demonstrate critical and creative thinking skills in problem solving and decision making,
(o) demonstrate competence in using information technologies,
(p) know how to work independently and as part of a team,
(q) manage time and other resources needed to complete a task,
(r) demonstrate initiative, leadership, flexibility and persistence,
(s) evaluate their own endeavours and continually strive to improve, and
(t) have the desire and realize the need for life-long learning.

Aligned/Blended Home Education Programs in Alberta

Aligned/Blended Versus Traditional Programs: Do you know what you are signing up for?
Here is an analogy to help you decide what fits for you and your family:

Aligned/Blended Program
Imagine the aligned program is a like a school classroom. The certified teacher sits in the teacher’s chair and the children are doing schoolwork mandated by Alberta Education and covers the Alberta Program of Studies. The parent is the volunteer aide, unpaid, and under the teacher’s supervision. While the teacher is out of the classroom, having coffee, the parent volunteer sits in the certified teacher’s chair and assumes the role of the teacher while she is out. Now, imagine a child having trouble with an assignment or refusing to write an essay.

Is the government and administrators going to come and fire the parent volunteer? No. Will they hold the parent volunteer responsible? No. Do they expect the parent volunteer to document what was learned and what wasn’t? No. Will they take away the resources (funding) in the class because the child isn’t learning? No. Will they supervise the paid teacher closer and figure out what is wrong with the teaching methods? Perhaps. Will they kick the child out of the class and tell the parent to homeschool him? (Asking parent to drop down to tradional instead of aligned) Not on your life! The certified teacher will come back and assume control of the classroom and the parent volunteer aide, who has been helping the teacher will be back in the volunteer role on the side.

The teacher will continue to mark the assignments that the parent handed out and which the parent provided tutoring on. The teacher will gather the assignments that the parent volunteer facilitated on their behalf while the teacher was having coffee, and will submit them to the government as evidence of their teaching the curriculum. If there is no evidence of teaching/learning, the teacher, and school board will be answerable to Alberta Education. Not the parent volunteer aide.

When you are homeschooling on a blended or aligned program, you are the parent volunteer aide. All you do is help the paid teacher carry out her work. You are not responsible for delivery, assessment or even documentation! That belongs with the teacher, the administrator and the school board. Alberta Education funds the school to pay for the teacher,(not the parent volunteer aide) classroom, resources and administration and therefore expects all to follow it's mandated Alberta Program of Studies.

Traditional Program

In the above analogy, the parent pulls the child out of the school and takes them home or in the community. The parent and child decide which philosophy, curriculum, and goals will be met in the year. The parent can use whatever resources they choose. The parent is totally responsible to Alberta Education for meeting the targets in theSchedule of Learning Outcomes for Students Receiving Home Education Programs That Do Not Follow the Alberta Programs of Study

The School board gets some funding and has to share half the amount with the parent. The parent is responsible to Alberta Education for the planning, delivery and evalution of the Traditional program. The certified teacher is only responsible for ensuring that the child is progressing toward the goals set out in the above Learning Outcomes. No marks will be given.

Hopefully, this will help parents decide what type of program is beneficial for their families.