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.

Vermillion School of Hope

School of Hope offers a full curriculum program from Grade 1-12. They offer online classes for the older grades and fully support traditional programs.

What I like...

They offer on-site, one-day classes in Calgary and plenty of field trips. They have been supporting homeschoolers for decades and their facilitators are truly supportive and encouraging. They offer special needs and IPP testing and provide special ed funding and resources.

What Needs Improvement...

Greater communication methods need to be encouraged between administration, facilitators and parents. Currently, parents can only contact the school inside the school website. Funding receipts are intensely and overly scrutinized in a needlessly bureaucratic manner.

Something this school board does well...

School of Hope offers a lot of flexibility in terms of teaching styles, learning styles and curriculum/resource choices in their blended/aligned programs. Ideal for parents who are starting and need structure/intense support in their program with a basic curriculum to start with.

CBE Learn

CBE Home Education offers grade 1-9 traditional, and blended programs. Blended is truly delivered through correspondance, online and classroom. No home education high school program is currently available if one desires marks and credits.

What I like...

Excellent online junior high and senior high courses that are interactive, organized and current.

What Needs Improvement...

Administration needs to provide more support to families in terms of handholding, curriculum choices, and approval of different home education approaches such as individualized learning.

Something this school board does well...

CBE-Learn takes the Teacher directed portion of the aligned and blended programs seriously and actually plan, deliver and evaluate those portions according to the Alberta Learning School Act regulations. The parent doesn't have to provide anything on the Teacher directed Blended and Aligned portion, except to nag the children to do their homework.

Homeschooling School Board Links

To get you started in accessing homeschooling boards in Calgary and area, here is a list of some boards. This list is by no means complete and no one board is endorsed.

School Boards (in alphabetical order) that register Calgary and area home education students:

Argyll Centre- http://www.argyll.epsb.ca/

Cbelearn- http://www.cbelearn.ca/

Centre for Learning at Home, Okotoks- http://www.centreforlearning.ca/

Families Learning Together- http://www.familieslearningtogether.com/

Golden Hills Home Learning- seamansd@telusplanet.net This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Home Learning Connection- (Formerly Community Connections)
http://www.thelearningconnection.ca/

Phoenix Foundation- http://www.phoenixfoundation.ca
http://www.phoenixfoundation.ca/

Rockyview/Airdrie Learning Connection- http://www.rvlc.rockyview.ab.ca/

Roots- http://www.roots-homeschooling.com/

School of Hope, Vermillion (East Central Alberta Catholic Separate Schools)-
http://www.schoolofhope.org/

St. Anne Academic Centre – Calgary Catholic School Board: 403-262-2525

The Home Education Exchange-
http://www.thee.ca/

Wisdom Homeschooling- http://www.wisdomhomeschooling.com
http://www.wisdomhomeschooling.com