Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s government has unveiled proposed legislation aimed at giving parents clearer information about their children’s academic progress and improving transparency in the province’s education system.
Bill 35, titled the Education and Childcare (Securing Parental Involvement) Statutes Amendment Act, 2026, would introduce several changes to the Education Act if approved. The proposals include province-wide report card standards, greater disclosure of activities during professional development days and a more structured approach to handling parental concerns that remain unresolved at the school level.
Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said the changes are intended to put parents at the centre of their children’s education by improving access to information and creating stronger opportunities for family participation.
Province-wide standards for report cards
Under the proposed legislation, the education minister would be empowered to establish provincial standards for report cards. The aim is to make information about student achievement and progress more consistent and easier for families to understand across Alberta.
School boards would, however, retain the authority to decide the format of report cards and how they are delivered to parents.
Schools to disclose activities on PD days
The bill also proposes greater openness around professional development days and other non-instructional operational days.
School authorities would have to publicly share details of the activities taking place on these days, allowing parents to understand how the time is being used to support teaching and student achievement.
New process for unresolved parental complaints
Another key provision would require school boards to establish formal procedures for receiving and managing concerns that have not been resolved through existing school-level channels.
Parents would still be expected to follow the established school and school board processes when raising issues. Individual cases would remain the responsibility of the respective school boards.
The government also intends to create an online tool to guide families through the process of raising concerns and help officials identify issues emerging across the province.
Ministerial approval for school names
Bill 35 would also amend the 2026 legislation titled An Act to Remove Politics and Ideology from Classrooms and Amend the Education Act.
Under the proposed change, public school boards would need approval from the education minister before starting a process to name or rename a school building they own. Following approval, boards could proceed with local consultations and make decisions through their existing processes.
The proposals have received support from education representatives, who highlighted the importance of stronger communication between schools and families.
Sandra Palazzo, board chair of Edmonton Catholic Schools, said closer relationships with families are important for student success. She noted that consistent information could help parents better understand their children’s progress and identify opportunities for additional support.
Meagan Parisian, president of the Alberta School Councils’ Association, said the measures could strengthen communication and trust between schools and parents, adding that informed parents play an important role in supporting their school communities.
Tim Driedger, board chair of Fort Vermilion School Division, described the bill as an important step towards giving parents a clearer and more consistent voice in education. He said making information about student progress and board procedures more accessible could help build trust and cooperation.
If passed, the proposed measures would introduce new transparency requirements and establish more consistent ways for families to access information and raise concerns about their children’s education.
