New curriculum coming to K-6 classrooms this fall — but not all of it, education minister says

Alberta students in kindergarten through Grade 3 will be taught the new curriculum in mathematics and English language arts starting this fall, Education Minister Adriana LaGrange said Thursday.

But students in grades 4 to 6 won't start learning the new English language arts and literature and mathematics curriculum until September 2023, LaGrange told a news conference.

LaGrange said math and English are key areas where younger children need the most help. 

"This will help our younger students who are in their critical early stages in their development, strengthening their numeracy and literacy skills," she said.

All students in kindergarten to Grade 6 will be taught the province's new curriculum in wellness and physical education starting in September.

Alberta's draft K-6 curriculum to be delayed in 4 subjects, LaGrange announces

The provincial government has been criticized by teachers, parents and the Opposition NDP while it reviewed and piloted the new curriculum.

LaGrange said she's heard calls for the government to delay implementing the new curriculum. 

"This would not be in the best interest of our students," she said, calling the current curriculum outdated. 

LaGrange said she based her decision to start with some subjects this fall on advice from the curriculum implementation advisory group, which was set up in January. 

The group included superintendents, teachers, an elementary principal and representatives from the Alberta School Boards Association.

The curriculum review process was the "most open and transparent curriculum review process our province has ever seen," LaGrange said. 

The Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) released a poll Thursday showing three per cent of teachers feel they have sufficient resources to implement the draft K–6 curriculum successfully this fall. 

The poll, conducted by Environics Research, also shows almost half of Alberta residents believe the draft curriculum won't meet the needs of students.