Minister of Community and Social Services for Alberta Jason Luan (left) and Tracy Allard (right) Photo Credit: Shane Clausing

By Shane Clausing

Allard K-6 curriculum

Grande Prairie MLA Allard requests Minister LaGrange to slow down rollout of draft K-6 curriculum

Aug 20, 2021 | 5:06 PM

Grande Prairie MLA Tracy Allard is requesting Education Minister Adriana LaGrange to slow down the rollout of the new draft K-6 curriculum.

Allard wrote a six-page letter to Minister LaGrange Friday, summarizing what she’s heard from meeting with constituents, stakeholders, and all three of the local school boards in Grande Prairie about the draft curriculum since April.

“Since April of this year, I have heard repeatedly from constituents and stakeholders outlining their concerns regarding the draft K-6 curriculum and have collected a significant amount of feedback,” she said in the letter.

“In general, the most contentious feedback pertains to the Social Studies draft; however, I have heard some overarching concerns regarding the pacing, scaffolding, and sheer volume of the subject matter across the board.”

In the letter, Allard pointed to additional concerns as well, which questions how the curriculum was made.

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“Additional concerns include the government process and procedure involved with the consultation and development of the curriculum draft, concerns regarding plagiarism within content, the lack of clarity as to the source and availability of resource material to support the new curriculum, and the added pressure of learning gaps and disruptions in our student population coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Allard wrote the most challenging concern she’s identified seems to be the lack of school division participation to pilot the draft.

“Without this collective approach, it is unclear how the curriculum will be tested and vetted, allowing the content to be adjusted accordingly and ultimately, landing on a solid and practical curriculum which will prepare our children to take on the challenges of their future plans, whether in a field of post-secondary study or entering the workforce.”

Allard reiterated that Albertans need to work together to help build a solid curriculum for our future.

“How do we honour parents, support kids, and empower educators to ultimately prepare Alberta’s students for their future? I believe our government must re-engage with stakeholders and more fully draw them into the process of development such that they feel a party to process and not subject to the material presented.”

Allard categorized her feedback from her meetings into five general themes:

• Volume and content of material
• Pacing and Scaffolding
• Implementation Concerns
• Process for Development
• Lack of Consultation – Impetus for such as radical shift from 2018 draft

Of the biggest concerns she’s heard, Allard stated people she’s engaged with are concerned and do not feel like they’re being heard.

Allard’s full thread of Allard’s letter can be found below. EverythingGP has reached out to Allard for comment.