David Staples advocates yearly testing
Edmonton Journal columnist makes an eloquent defence of standardized testing in this column, and suggests that the new revised tests should take place on an annual basis. What he proposes is similar...
Read more
New Standardized Testing Must Assess Knowledge as well as Skill
Parents for Choice in Education (PCE) is calling on the Government of Alberta to clarify certain aspects of their proposed changes to standardized testing. Assessments must measure what students are learning and...
Read more
Government Announces Major Standardized Testing Overhaul
The Alberta government has announced a major overhaul of the way standardized testing is done in Alberta. You can read about it here, and listen to the press conference here. Parents for...
Read more
The Fast Track to University
I recently stumbled across this article about one home educating family in Alabama. Many different families home educate in different ways and put emphasis on different kinds of things. In this case,...
Read more
Sexually Explicit Education
In Germany, a book released in 1991 has been circulating through Berlin’s first grade classrooms. Graphically illustrated, “Where Do You Come From?” teaches children ages 5 and up about stages of sexual...
Read more
Fraser Institute Releases High School Rankings
The Fraser Institute rates high schools across Alberta on an annual basis based on their academic performance. This provides critical information to parents which they can use when selecting a high school...
Read more
More Professionals Choosing Home Education
I recently came across a really interesting article about home education. (Follow the link to read it). It's written by a pediatrician who had a lot of negative stereotypes about home education,...
Read more
Errors Identified in Ontario Civics Curriculum
Some significant errors have been identified in Ontario’s Civics textbooks. These errors include, for example, the suggestion that Canada’s Senate is elected. You can read the story here. These mistakes demonstrate something...
Read more
New PCE Event
Parents for Choice in Education is hosting another major event, this time in Edmonton. We will be please to welcome international school choice expert David Seymour to speak about how Alberta's education...
Read more
Strong Turnout at Home Educators Conference in Red Deer
This weekend, the Alberta Home Education Assocation (AHEA) hosted a great conference in Red Deer. Numerous speakers, sessions, and exhibitors provided information and support for home educating families. Parents for Choice in...
Read more
Cuts Coming to Busing Support
The belt-tightening in Alberta's recent budget will have an affect on support for busing, according to Global News. The government is eliminating a fuel subsidy to schools, and this will increase costs...
Read more
Government Working on PAT ‘Alternatives’
The provincial government has signaled that they are preparing to move to a different model for standardized testing – one that will apparently emphasize ‘competence’ over ‘content’. You can read an Edmonton...
Read more
Budget Cuts Disproportionately Affect Independent Schools
The recent provincial budget in Alberta is something of an 'austerity budget'. Spending is maintained in some areas and cut in others. This reflects the fiscal reality, and we at PCE are...
Read more
PCE Executive Director Speaks to ARPA Group
Yesterday evening, PCE Executive Director Garnett Genuis spoke to Alberta members of the Association for Reformed Political Action at Immanuel Canadian Reformed Church. He spoke about how they can effectively involve themselves...
Read more
Budget Pressures on Education
Last week, the Alberta government released the provincial budget. Given increasing fiscal pressures, there are three major points worth noting with regard to education: 1) The government and the Alberta teachers association...
Read more
Michael Coren Energizes PCE Supporters
This past Saturday, talk show host and best-selling author Michael Coren spoke to PCE supporters at a fundraising dinner in Calgary. Coren entertained those present by sharing various jokes and personal anecdotes,...
Read more
Debate in 24 Hours about Graphic Sex Ed
We brought you a story earlier about a Vancouver school where a student was given a brochure with graphic pictures of people having sex. Parents were not consulted and the parent of...
Read more
1 Week to Michael Coren Dinner
Parents for Choice in Education will be holding a fundraising dinner with Michael Coren in Calgary 1 week from today. Michael Coren is a widely acclaimed talk show host and best-selling author....
Read more
Sexually Explicit Materials in Schools
A woman in Nanaimo recently found out that her son had been given sexually-explicit material by instructors at school. The booklet he was given was designed to promote condom use, and showed...
Read more
More Ontario Madness - Toronto School Board Paints Communism in a Positive Light
We at PCE focus our efforts here in Alberta; however, we also think it is important to follow development in education in other provinces. What happens in other places can quickly be...
Read more
Fraser Institute Ranks Elementary Schools
The Fraser Institute is a BC-based think tank, and it has existed for about 40 years. One of their ongoing projects is to rank schools, based on publically-available data, in order to...
Read more
Alberta School Boards Association Offers Training to Trustee Candidates
School Board Trustee elections are coming up this fall, and Parents for Choice in Education is planning on playing an active role across the province helping to elect trustees who support parental...
Read more
4 Day School Week
The public school board in Fort McMurray is considering moving to a 4 day school week. The board faces a large deficit, and this would provide significant savings. The 4 school days...
Read more
The Economics of School Choice
A supporter of PCE recently sent me a great paper written by Caroline Hoxby about the economics of school choice programs. It's a great read. Hoxby explains well why some school choice...
Read more
Fiscal Situation Means 'Tough Choices' in Education
Alberta's provincial government has signaled that the provincial budget, scheduled to be released in early March, will include some 'tough choices'. Because of the status of energy revenues, the government will not...
Read more