The Alberta School Act contains five fundamental principles that define a first-rate education for every child in the province:

• access to quality education
• equity
• flexibility and choice
• responsiveness
• accountability

The School Act authorizes Alberta's Minister of Education to prescribe courses, programs of study, instructional time, and educational standards such as high school graduation requirements. It also defines the roles and responsibilities of school authorities, superintendents, principals and teachers, as well as a code of conduct for students.

The school year
The traditional school year in Alberta usually runs from September to June and it is often divided into two semesters. The first semester is from September to January and the second from February to June, with summer vacation in July and August. There are also holidays in the winter (December) and in the spring (March or April).

School schedules can vary to suit the unique needs of communities and innovative or alternative programs. As a result, some schools in Alberta have scheduled classes year round. For more information on alternative school calendars, please visit http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/parents/syos/.

Placement of international students
When enrolling international students in classes, teachers and school counselors consider a student's previous school records, age and English language proficiency. The number of regular classes a student can take will largely depend on their English proficiency level.

Many schools have excellent support for learners whose second language is English. English as a Second Language (ESL) classes can help students adjust to a new language, cultural values, customs and social expectations. Size and frequency of ESL classes vary from school to school and from school board to school board. To determine what options are available, contact the local school jurisdiction.

International students with excellent English language skills may not require ESL classes. In this case, a local school board can direct students to schools that best suit their personal interests and long term education goals.

School Activities
School activities generally include a variety of athletic and artistic pursuits. Schools often offer team sports, such as North American football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball and rugby as well as individual sports, such as track and field and swimming. For artistic pursuits, schools generally offer opportunities in drama, music, art and debate. In addition, many students participate in extracurricular clubs including reading clubs, international student clubs and chess clubs, so that they can enjoy time with students that have similar interests.

NOTE: International students under the age of 18 that want to do extracurricular activities such as mountain biking, skiing/snowboarding, or mountaineering must first seek written permission from both the school board and the homestay family. This ensures students are informed of the risks involved in certain activities and that appropriate steps are taken to arrange for supervision and safe travel.