(LifeSiteNews) — The Montreal Economic Institute has encouraged Alberta to boost its charter school independence as increasing numbers of parents are seeking alternative options.
In a September 4 study, the Montreal Economic Institute called on Alberta to update its education policy by enhancing the charter school program to meet the growing demand for independent and alternative school options.
“Alberta stands at the forefront of educational choice in Canada, with a robust and varied landscape of publicly funded K-12 options,” the study declared.
“Alberta is the only Canadian province to allow charter schools, which have greater autonomy than traditional public schools and an explicit mandate to deliver innovative, high-quality education tailored to needs not otherwise met within the system,” it continued.
Introduced in 1994, charter schools provide an alternative to public, Catholic, and private schools by emphasizing specialized programs and greater operational autonomy. They are tuition-free, public institutions that must adhere to the provincial curriculum while experimenting with teaching methods, governance, and educational focuses not typically available in standard public schools.
Charter schools are governed by independent boards – either non-profit societies or not-for-profit companies – that report directly to Alberta Education, bypassing local school district authorities.
This structure allows them to tailor education to specific student needs and often avoid LGBT propaganda, instead focusing on learning and education.
According to the Montreal Economic Institute, Alberta’s charter school system has grown so popular that it is no longer keeping up with demand.
“Fuelled by surging demand, charter school growth has accelerated in both number and enrollment in recent years,” the study explained. “However, supply struggles to keep pace, with long waitlists and lottery systems for admission. With more and more Alberta families seeking access to these innovative educational opportunities, the province’s education policy needs to catch up.”
Unlike most Canadian provinces, Alberta’s education policies encourage parental involvement and independence. In addition to charter schools, the province offers a funding on a per-student basis, meaning that homeschooling parents can receive government funding to educate their children at home.
As LifeSiteNews previously reported, Alberta is also working to protect children in public schools from pornographic material. Just last week, the province released a new mandate to keep sexually explicit books out of school libraries.
Furthermore, a new poll has revealed that Alberta is becoming increasingly pro-life and embracing traditional family values.
