An Act to Remove Politics and Ideology from Classrooms and Amend the Education Act, 2026 (Unproclaimed Sections Only)

AN ACT TO REMOVE POLITICS AND IDEOLOGY FROM CLASSROOMS AND AMEND THE EDUCATION ACT, 2026 Chapter 13 HIS MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows: Amends SA 2012 cE‑0.3 1 The Education Act is amended by this Act. 2 The preamble is amended in the 6th recital by striking out “welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments that respect diversity and nurture a sense of belonging and a positive sense of self” and substituting “a safe and caring environment that fosters and maintains respectful and responsible behaviours”. 3 Section 16 is repealed and the following is substituted: Intellectual diversity and respect 16 (1) All courses or programs of study and instructional materials used in a school must (a) encourage a wide range of perspectives and ideas, (b) foster critical thinking, (c) foster the acquisition of knowledge and skills, (d) reflect the diverse nature and heritage of society in Alberta, (e) promote understanding and respect for others, and (f) honour and respect the common values and beliefs of Albertans. (2) No course, program of study or instructional materials referred to in subsection (1) may promote or foster doctrines of racial or ethnic superiority or persecution, social change through violent action or disobedience of laws. 4 Section 18 is amended (a) in subsection (4) by adding “, including directives establishing such assessments” after “by the Minister”; (b) by adding the following after subsection (4): (5) Where a directive issued under subsection (4) establishes an assessment of persons by the Minister, the Minister may require that the assessment be conducted electronically, in a form and manner prescribed by the Minister. (6) Notwithstanding subsection (5), the Minister may (a) permit a board to administer the assessment in a manner other than the manner described in subsection (5) at one or more schools operated by the board, and (b) permit a person or class of persons who are the subject of the assessment to complete the assessment in a manner other than the manner described in subsection (5). 5 The following is added after section 18: Provincial strategic priorities 18.01 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, in accordance with the regulations, establish provincial strategic priorities for the education system that support student success. (2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing the priorities established under subsection (1). (3) A regulation made under subsection (2) may be specific or general in its application. (4) Neither this section nor the regulations made under this section, if any, shall be construed so as to (a) infringe or deny the right citizens of Canada have under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to have their children receive primary and secondary school instruction in the language of the English or French linguistic minority population of a province, or (b) prejudicially affect any right or privilege with respect to separate schools which any class of persons had at the date of the passing of the Alberta Act, 1905 (Canada), under the terms of chapters 29 and 30 of the Ordinances of the North‑West Territories, passed in the year 1901, or with respect to religious instruction in any public or separate school as provided for in the said ordinances. 6 Section 18.1 is amended (a) in subsection (3) by striking out “Where” and substituting “Subject to subsection (4), where”; (b) by repealing subsection (4) and substituting the following: (4) Neither subsection (2) nor (3) applies where the learning and teaching resources are used or provided to provide religious instruction. (c) by repealing subsection (5). 7 Section 27(1)(f) is amended by striking out “except section 191” and substituting “except sections 191 and 195.01”. 8 Section 30(1.1) is repealed and the following is substituted: (1.1) Sections 18.01, 33(1)(a.1) to (a.3), (b.1), (d), (d.1) and (k.1), (1.2) to (3), 61 and 61.1 and any regulations made under them apply to an accredited independent school, and a board referred to in those sections or regulations is deemed to include a person responsible for the operation of an accredited independent school. 9 Section 31 is amended (a) in clause (c) by striking out “contributes to a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that respects diversity and fosters a sense of belonging” and substituting “safeguards and contributes to a safe and caring environment that fosters and maintains respectful and responsible behaviours”; (b) by adding the following after clause (e): (e.1) refrain from engaging in violence of any kind at school and during school‑related activities and, without putting the student’s own safety or well‑being at risk, assist in the prevention of such violence by reporting concerns respecting it to, and co‑operating with the intervention efforts of, school staff, 10 Section 32(d) is amended by striking out “contributes to a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment” and substituting “safeguards and contributes to a safe and caring environment that fosters and maintains respectful and responsible behaviours”. 11 Section 33 is amended (a) in subsection (1) (i) by adding the following after clause (a): (a.1) implement and continuously monitor the delivery of courses or programs of study prescribed, approved or authorized under this Act to ensure that each student enrolled in a school operated by the board receives high‑quality and academically challenging instruction, (a.2) ensure that the courses or programs of study offered at a school operated by the board are focused on academic rigor, intellectual integrity and essential knowledge, (a.3) ensure that the delivery of any education programming not prescribed, approved or authorized under this Act is impartial, fair, neutral and free of personal bias, (ii) by adding the following after clause (b): (b.1) establish and implement methods that facilitate the meaningful involvement of parents in student learning and decisions respecting non‑instructional school activities, (iii) in clause (d) by striking out “welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that respects diversity and fosters a sense of belonging” and substituting “safe and caring environment that fosters and maintains respectful and responsible behaviours”; (iv) by adding the following after clause (d): (d.1) ensure that each student enrolled in a school operated by the board is free to express any perspective or idea at school in a manner that complies with the code of conduct for students established by the board under subsection (2) and all applicable legislation, (v) by adding the following after clause (k): (k.1) refrain from issuing statements or taking positions, including political, social or ideological positions, that are not relevant to the fulfilment by the board of its obligations under this Act, (b) by adding the following after subsection (1.1): (1.2) No board shall, directly or indirectly, require an employee of the board to participate in an exercise, or to affirm, recite or make a statement, that is inconsistent with the employee’s conscientious, political, social or ideological beliefs, unless that participation, affirmation, recitation or making comprises part of (a) a course or program of study, or religious instruction or exercises, prescribed or approved under this Act, or (b) religious instruction, exercises or activities related to the management, administration or operation of the board. (c) in subsection (2) by striking out “welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment” and substituting “safe and caring environment”; (d) in subsection (3)(d) (i) in subclause (i) by striking out “welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments” and substituting “a safe and caring environment that fosters and maintains respectful and responsible behaviours”; (ii) by adding the following after subclause (iv): (v) one or more statements that address the responsibility under section 31(e.1) to refrain from engaging in, and to assist in the prevention of, violence, 12 Section 35.1(1) is amended by striking out “welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that respects diversity and fosters a sense of belonging” and substituting “safe and caring environment that fosters and maintains respectful and responsible behaviours”. 13 Section 61 is repealed and the following is substituted: Flags 61 (1) A board shall ensure that the Canadian and Alberta flags are displayed at each school operated by the board in accordance with the regulations. (2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), a board shall ensure that no flag other than a flag referred to in subsection (1) is displayed at a school operated by the board. (3) The Minister may, by regulation, prescribe flags other than those referred to in subsection (1) that may be displayed. (4) On the request in writing of a board, the Minister may, by regulation, permit the display of a flag other than a flag referred to in subsection (1) at one or more schools operated by the board in accordance with the regulations. Anthem 61.1 (1) A board shall ensure that Canada’s national anthem is played at each school operated by the board in accordance with the regulations. (2) The anthem must be played, at minimum, once a week during the school day. (3) An employee of the board or a student enrolled in a school operated by the board may be excused from participating in the playing of the anthem by submitting a request to that effect in accordance with subsection (4) or (5), as applicable. (4) A request made under subsection (3) by an employee of the board must be in writing and submitted to the board or the principal of the school in which the employee is employed. (5) A request made under subsection (3) in respect of a student enrolled in a school operated by the board must be in writing, signed by the parent of the student and submitted to the principal of the school or a teacher who provides instruction or supervision in respect of the student. (6) Where a request is received under subsection (4) or (5), the board, principal or teacher, as the case may be, shall permit the individual who is the subject of the request to (a) leave the place where the anthem is being played for the duration of the playing, or (b) remain in that place without standing, singing or otherwise participating in the playing. Regulations 61.2 (1) The Minister may make regulations (a) respecting the display of flags at schools, including regulations (i) respecting the location at and manner in which flags are to be displayed, (ii) prescribing flags other than those referred to in section 61(1) that may be displayed, and (iii) permitting a board to display flags other than those referred to in section 61(1) at one or more schools operated by the board; (b) respecting the playing of the national anthem at schools, including the manner and language in which the anthem is to be played. (2) A regulation made under this section may be general or specific in its application. 14 The following is added after section 79: Leave of absence for federal election 79.1 (1) In this section, “by‑election”, “election”, “electoral district” and “member” have the same meaning as in the Canada Elections Act (Canada), unless the context indicates otherwise. (2) A trustee of a board who wishes to be nominated as a candidate in an election or by‑election shall take a leave of absence without pay by providing notice to the board to that effect in accordance with subsection (3). (3) The notice provided under subsection (2) must be (a) in writing, and (b) provided before the trustee’s last working day before the day the writ is issued for the election or by‑election, as the case may be, in which the trustee wishes to be nominated as a candidate. (4) The leave of absence referred to in subsection (2) begins on the day the writ is issued for the election or by‑election referred to in subsection (3)(b) and ends in accordance with subsection (6), (7) or (9), as applicable. (5) While the trustee is taking the leave of absence, (a) the trustee (i) is deemed not to be a trustee, and (ii) shall not purport to exercise the powers or perform the duties of a trustee, and (b) the board shall not (i) treat the office from which the trustee is taking the leave of absence as vacant, or (ii) hold a by‑election for that office. (6) If the trustee is not declared elected under the Canada Elections Act (Canada), (a) the trustee is considered to hold the office from which the leave of absence was taken as of the day (i) another candidate is declared elected under subsection 313(1) of that Act in the electoral district in which the trustee was a candidate, or (ii) a report sent under paragraph 318(a) of that Act is received stating that no candidate was declared elected in that electoral district because of an equality of votes between the candidates with the largest number of votes, and (b) the leave of absence ends on the day before the day referred to in clause (a)(i) or (ii), as the case may be. (7) If the trustee is declared elected under the Canada Elections Act (Canada), (a) the trustee is deemed to have resigned as a trustee on the day the trustee takes the oath of allegiance as a member under section 128 of the Constitution Act, 1867 , and (b) the leave of absence of the trustee ends on the day before the day referred to in clause (a). (8) Subject to subsection (9), the resignation or disqualification as a member of the individual referred to in subsection (7), or the voidance or annulment of the election as a member of that individual, does not revive the office the individual is deemed to have resigned under subsection (7)(a) and does not entitle that individual to hold that office. (9) If the trustee who is declared elected under the Canada Elections Act (Canada) resigns as a member before taking the oath of allegiance referred to in subsection (7)(a), (a) the trustee is considered to hold the office from which the leave of absence was taken as of the day the trustee’s notice of intention to resign, or declaration of intention to resign, is given or delivered, as the case may be, and (b) the leave of absence ends on the day before the day referred to in clause (a). (10) Subsection (4) applies, whether or not a trustee referred to in subsection (2) provides notice to the board in accordance with subsection (3). 15 Section 187.1 is amended (a) in subsection (3)(b)(i) by adding “of Titles under the Land Titles Act ” after “Registrar”; (b) in subsection (5) by striking out “Land Titles” and substituting “Titles under the Land Titles Act ”; (c) by adding the following after subsection (5): (6) Neither this section nor the regulations made under this section, if any, shall be construed so as to infringe or deny the right citizens of Canada have under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to have their children receive primary and secondary school instruction in the language of the English or French linguistic minority population of a province. 16 The following is added after section 187.1: Transfer of real property 187.2 (1) In this section, “net book value” has the same meaning as in the Real Property Governance Act . (2) Where the Minister determines that real property owned by a board meets one or more criteria prescribed by the regulations, the Minister may provide written notice to the board of the transfer of ownership of the real property to the Crown. (3) The Minister shall determine the form and contents of the notice provided under subsection (2). (4) Ownership of the real property that is the subject of the notice provided under subsection (2) transfers to the Crown on the expiry of (a) 45 days after the day on which the notice was provided, or (b) the period otherwise specified in the notice. (5) After the expiry of the period referred to in subsection (4)(a) or (b), as applicable, the Minister shall (a) provide a copy of the notice to the Registrar of Titles under the Land Titles Act , and (b) request the Registrar of Titles to issue a certificate of title on which the Crown is recorded as the owner of the real property. (6) On receipt of the copy provided under subsection (5)(a), the Registrar of Titles shall (a) remove the reserve designation, if any, from the existing certificate of title in respect of the real property, and (b) issue the certificate of title requested under subsection (5)(b). (7) On the transfer of ownership under subsection (4), the Crown shall pay to the board (a) the net book value of the real property transferred, or (b) an amount greater than that net book value determined in accordance with the regulations. (8) A transfer of ownership under this section (a) is not to be treated as an expropriation under the Expropriation Act , and (b) is not grounds for any cause of action under an enactment or at common law. (9) Neither this section nor the regulations made under this section, if any, shall be construed so as to infringe or deny the right citizens of Canada have under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to have their children receive primary and secondary school instruction in the language of the English or French linguistic minority population of a province. 17 Section 194 is amended by adding the following after clause (c): (d) prescribing criteria for the purposes of section 187.2(2); (e) respecting the determination of amounts payable under section 187.2(7)(b). 18 The following is added after section 195: Naming of school buildings 195.01 (1) Before the board of a public school division may name or rename a school building that the board owns, the board shall, in accordance with the regulations, apply for the Minister’s approval of the name. (2) The Minister may approve or refuse to approve an application made under subsection (1) in accordance with the regulations. Regulations 195.02 The Minister may make regulations respecting applications to name and rename school buildings, including regulations (a) prescribing the form, manner and contents of such applications; (b) prescribing factors that are to inform the making of such applications; (c) prescribing the period within which boards are to receive a response to such applications and the consequences of not receiving a response within that period; (d) respecting the manner in which the Minister may approve or refuse to approve such applications; (e) respecting the manner in which school buildings that are the subject of applications for which approvals are refused are to be referred; (f) respecting the making of reapplications where approvals are refused. 19 Section 197(a.1) is amended by striking out “welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that respects diversity and fosters a sense of belonging” and substituting “safe and caring environment that fosters and maintains respectful and responsible behaviours”. 20 Section 223(1) is amended (a) by striking out “A board” and substituting “Subject to section 223.1, a board”; (b) by striking out “only”. 21 The following is added after section 223: Minister approval 223.1 (1) A board shall not enter into a contract of employment or a contract renewing a contract of employment with an individual who is appointed as a superintendent without the Minister’s prior approval in writing of the contract. (2) A board shall apply for the approval referred to in subsection (1) by providing to the Minister, in the form required by the Minister, (a) notice of the board’s intention to enter into the contract, (b) a copy of the contract the board intends to enter into, and (c) the information required by the Minister. (3) The Minister may, in any form the Minister considers appropriate, do one of the following no more than 60 days after receiving an application made under subsection (2): (a) approve the contract provided under subsection (2)(b); (b) refuse to approve the contract provided under subsection (2)(b) and provide reasons in writing to the board for the refusal. (4) If the Minister refuses to approve the contract under subsection (3)(b), the board may reapply for that approval by providing to the Minister, in the form required by the Minister, (a) notice of the board’s intention to enter into the contract, in amended form, (b) a copy of the contract the board intends to enter into, in amended form, and (c) the information required by the Minister. (5) The Minister may, in any form the Minister considers appropriate, do one of the following no more than 60 days after receiving an application made under subsection (4): (a) approve the contract provided under subsection (4)(b); (b) refuse to approve the contract provided under subsection (4)(b) and provide reasons in writing to the board for the refusal. (6) If a board does not reapply under subsection (4), or reapplies under subsection (4) and the Minister refuses to approve the contract provided under subsection (4)(b), the board shall appoint another individual as superintendent in accordance with section 222. (7) This section applies to a contract renewing a contract of employment whether or not the original contract was entered into before this section comes into force. 22 Section 224 is amended by adding the following after subsection (1): (1.01) The Minister may make regulations respecting the approval of contracts under section 223.1. Amends RSA 2000 cM‑26 24 (1) The Municipal Government Act is amended by this section. (2) Section 674(1.1) is amended by adding “or 187.2(4)” after “section 187.1(1)”. 25 This Act, except section 23, comes into force on Proclamation.