Education Policy Outline

With our provincial election looming (April 23, 2012), I wanted to provide a quick breakdown of the education policies from each of the four front running parties.

This is a very high level overview and there is a lot more to the policies than this but these are some of the starting points. For a truly 'educated' decision on election day - read through the policies. These statements/promises come directly from the web sites (and mouths) of the parties and any promises they make are theirs to keep not mine to answer for...
but I would love to hear your thoughts about some of this - use the comment link to send them out.

PC Alberta:
"In addition to our Budget 2012 commitments we will build 50 schools and modernize 70 more, so that our students have access to the education they need to compete on a global stage. "

"...$500 teachers tax credit, which is a reflection of our appreciation for all that teachers give out of their own pockets..."

"Progressive Conservative Leader Alison Redford promised Wednesday to build 50 new schools and renovate 70 more over the next four years at a cost of $2.4 billion." - source

Wildrose
"We will depoliticize school construction by allowing locally elected school boards to decide where schools should be built, instead of government bureaucrats in Edmonton. "

"We will empower public, Catholic and charter schools by allowing funding (operational and maintenance) to follow the student to the school each student attends"

"We will work with teachers and stakeholders to replace Provincial Achievement Tests with a new standardized model that evaluates a student’s actual improvement and comprehension of subject matter "

Danielle Smith will eliminate school fees - family pack.

Liberals
"The Alberta Liberal Party would create regulations and standards for a play-based Alberta curriculum run by qualified, trained staff, and fund a $100 million expansion of government subsidized early childhood education, rolled out starting in high needs areas."

"Leader Raj Sherman says his party, if elected Monday, would develop new schools and redevelop old ones to house community services, medical centres and libraries. " - source

 "Ending school fees. Provincial school lunch program. Three-stage plan to eliminate post-secondary tuition. Forgive student debt for graduates who stay and work in Alberta. Increased funding for arts, culture and sports." - from platform package


NDP
"will stand up for affordable, quality education by putting a stop to school closures, school fees, childcare shortages and rising university costs."

"Introduce a childcare system that moves towards a maximum daily cost of $25 per child, with a $9 per day cap for after school care"

"Prohibit school instruction fees... reduce post-secondary tuition fees by 10%, forgive portions of student loans" - source

See you at the polls - April 23, 2012