Alberta families are being misled about their school choices

Misinformation about school choice is causing some families to overlook opportunities that could change their child’s life

June report cards are arriving home soon, and wrapping up one school year makes parents think about the next. For students who may have experienced struggles, tears, and dissatisfaction this year, the question of “are there other options?” can be a persistent thought for families.

The existence of those other options can be shrouded in misinformation, with popular discourse often painting any non-neighbourhood school with an opaque brush. Whether it’s talking about homeschooling, or a charter or independent school, sometimes even a Catholic or Francophone school, it’s a common tactic to use some variation of the same lazy labels: elite. Privileged. Specialized. Wealthy. Religious. Unsocialized (that one is for homeschooling).

To summarize, what those labels are trying to say without saying: schooling options are “bad” and “unrealistic”.

What parents know, however, is that those stereotypes are simply not true.

The most effective way to counter such misinformation is through stories. There’s plenty of data, polling and analysis on the benefits of educational diversity to cite, but fact-sharing via storytelling is enormously more effective.

Most people don’t remember, say, any statistics about the First World War that they memorized from an elementary school textbook, but they often do remember reading a First World War-era novel (fiction or not) and details of the battles, displacement, conscription, rationing and revolutions that happened during the story.

The stories worth telling here and now are of the many parents and communities creating and growing new ways of learning within our varied educational system.

At gatherings of parents, educators and academics representing nine learning communities this spring, the crucial and uplifting takeaway was that Alberta’s pluralist education system offers something for everyone.

To highlight two examples: attendees heard from two different charter schools, both opened just within the last five years, which are both successful and for entirely different reasons. At STEM Collegiate, students are learning through coding, 3D printing and robotics. Conversely, Calgary Classical Academy achieves the same provincial curricular outcomes through lessons centred on ancient languages, music and history. Each offers multiple campuses and boasts extensive wait-lists.

Each school representative also shared a unique story about a child whose life was transformed when they found a learning environment or pedagogy that just clicked with them. In these modern learning environments, we heard that students called learning “fun,” were “enthusiastic and eager,” felt “proud,” like they “belonged” and were “cared about.” Pretty solid endorsement.

Whether a child needs project- and leadership-based learning (such as Acton Academy Calgary Central); or structure, repetition and foundational learning (TEMPO School); or to be seen for their abilities, not their learning disability (Foothills Academy); or a layering of options like the online-or-hybrid classical program hosted by Chesterton Academy, which is part of the Catholic school system; there is a program out there that can reach each student.

The biggest question people always have is cost, but that’s not the gremlin it’s made out to be, either. Every single school represented is either a completely free program or offers extensive financial assistance.

Among schools that do charge tuition, more than one-third (34 per cent) cost less than $1,000 annually, according to a recent AISCA member survey.

Representatives also spoke about their commitments to not allow cost to prevent any student from attending. That’s not a promise made lightly. It represents an enormous amount of time, effort and sacrifice to bring the community together to serve each other via volunteering, fundraisers and donations.

Knowledge is power. It’s OK to not know something, but it hurts to miss out on opportunities because you don’t know what you don’t know. Parents need to know that Alberta’s educational system is diverse, it is accessible, and it has options. “Having the option to make a decision lifts your spirits,” was one of the best hope-filled, solution-focused comments we heard.

And as one of the participants stated equally eloquently: “It’s all of these programs in aggregate that are actually inclusive.” If families are not satisfied with their child’s current school, they’re not stuck. Alberta offers public, separate, Francophone, charter and independent schools, as well as home education, shared-responsibility programs and distance learning. There’s likely a school community that is a good fit.

Maybe your child will have the next epic, transformational success story.

Catharine Kavanagh is the Western Stakeholder Director at Cardus, where she works to promote diversity and pluralism in Canada’s education and child care systems. A specialist in public policy with a background in social, family, and heritage advocacy, Catharine holds an Honours BA in Political Science from the University of Calgary and has a long-standing commitment to community-led grassroots initiatives.