Alberta Archives - Schoolio

Is Unschooling Legal in Alberta?

Is Unschooling Legal in Alberta? Discover the Freedom of Child-Led Learning

Yes, unschooling is legal in Alberta. Parents opting for this educational approach must notify their local school board of their intent to homeschool. Unschooling is a lawful approach in Alberta, allowing families to personalize their children’s education.

Now that you know it’s legal, let me explain what unschooling is all about!

What Is Unschooling?

Unschooling allows children to learn through self-directed exploration of their interests and natural curiosity. This approach differs from a structured curriculum typical of traditional schooling. Unschooling presents numerous benefits for children and families who choose this approach. At its core, unschooling advocates for child-led learning, allowing children to pursue their interests and passions autonomously. This approach nurtures intrinsic motivation and cultivates a genuine love for learning. Children engage deeply with subjects that captivate them. The flexibility inherent in unschooling enables learning to occur organically. It adapts to individual learning styles and accommodates diverse schedules and environments.

By tailoring education to each child’s unique strengths and interests, unschooling promotes a highly personalized experience. Tailoring education can be more effective than traditional methods. Schoolio understands that students learn best when they are motivated and engaged with their unique interests. Therefore, we emphasize creating opportunities that foster that engagement, enhancing learning outcomes. That’s why Schoolio created interest-based electives to ignite your child’s passion for learning!

Click here to check out Schoolio’s interest-based electives

Supervised VS Unsupervised Homeschooling in Alberta

Supervised & Unsupervised Homeschooling in Alberta: What’s the Difference?

In Alberta, homeschooling is regulated and can be categorized into two main types: supervised vs. unsupervised homeschooling. These categories differ significantly in terms of educational monitoring, support, and academic requirements.
Summary of Differences:

Aspect	Supervised Homeschooling	Unsupervised Homeschooling
Registration	Registration with a supervising school authority	Notify your supervising school authority with a Home Education Notification Form
Support	Guidance and support from the school authority	Find support yourself
Educational Plan/Curriculum	Must be approved by the school authority	Created independently by parents
Evaluation	Regular evaluations by the school authority	No formal evaluations
Funding	Funding available	No funding provided
Ressources	Access to resources from the school authority	Resources sourced by parents

Supervised homeschooling involves a formal relationship between homeschooling families and a school authority. Parents must register with this authority, which offers guidance and support throughout the homeschooling process. An important aspect of supervised homeschooling is submitting an educational plan that aligns with the Alberta Program of Studies or presents an alternative approach. The supervising authority must approve this plan. The authority evaluates student progress at least twice a year to ensure the student follows the educational plan and measures overall academic progress. Families in supervised homeschooling may receive funding for educational resources, up to $850 per child per year, depending on the authority’s policies. The school authority might also provide access to curriculum materials and other educational resources.

Unsupervised homeschooling, , or notification-only homeschooling, allows parents to educate their children independently without direct monitoring from a school authority. Parents must notify the Minister of Education of their intent to homeschool. This process is less formal than supervised homeschooling and does not involve a supervising authority. Parents create and implement their child’s educational plan without needing external approval. No formal evaluations are conducted by an authority. Families opting for unsupervised homeschooling handle all sourcing and financing of educational materials themselves, without receiving government funding.

In summary, the key differences between supervised and unsupervised homeschooling in Alberta are the following:
1. External student monitoring

2. academic support

3. legislative requirements.

Supervised homeschooling involves registration with a school authority. It requires submission and approval of an educational plan, regular evaluations, and funding for resources. Unsupervised homeschooling requires only a notification to the Minister of Education. Parents will independently managing their child’s educational plan and progress assessments, no financial support, and no formal evaluations. The choice between supervised homeschooling and unsupervised homeschooling depends on the family’s educational preferences and needs.

Deciding between supervised homeschooling and unsupervised homeschooling? There are some important factors to consider when making your decision.

Deciding between supervised VS unsupervised homeschooling in Alberta for your child involves several important considerations. They’re related to your child’s educational needs, your family’s preferences, and your readiness to manage the homeschooling process. Consider your child’s learning style and needs. A child who benefits from structured guidance might thrive with supervised homeschooling, which provides a formalized plan and regular evaluations. However, if your child is more self-directed, has neurodivergence, or has specific learning needs, the flexibility of unsupervised homeschooling, with its customized curriculum and schedule, might be advantageous.

Time commitment, educational philosophy, and financial aspects are also important in this decision. Supervised homeschooling requires regular interaction with the supervising authority and adherence to a structured plan, which can be time-consuming. Unsupervised homeschooling, on the other hand, allows greater freedom but requires you to independently develop and manage your child’s education. Consider the level of support and resources each option provides: supervised homeschooling offers funding and specific academic materials, while with unsupervised homeschooling you source and finance your own curriculum.

Regardless if you choose supervised or unsupervised homeschooling, Schoolio is here to help. Click here to learn more about Schoolio: The Homeschool Program for Alberta Families.

Is Homeschooling Popular in Alberta?

Surge in Homeschooling Popularity in Alberta: Why More Families Are Choosing Homeschooling

Short answer: Yes! There has been a significant surge in homeschooling popularity in Alberta in recent years.

Long answer: Yes!

In recent years, homeschooling has gained significant popularity amongst families in Alberta. There are many variables that have contributed to this surge in homeschooling popularity in Alberta, as it quickly becomes a highly sought-after educational alternative for forward-thinking families who are invested in bettering their child’s educational experience and reclaiming autonomy over their child’s learning.

The COVID-19 pandemic played a pivotal role in accelerating interest in homeschooling as families searched for more stable and personalized educational options during periods of school closures. This experience emphasized the appeal of homeschooling’s flexibility and customization, allowing parents to tailor curriculum and learning approaches to accommodate their child’s individual needs, learning styles, and interests more closely than traditional schooling often allows.

Concerns over the quality of education provided in traditional public and private schools have also prompted some Alberta parents to explore homeschooling as a means to ensure their children receive a high-quality education aligned with their values. Advancements in educational resources, online learning platforms such as Schoolio, and support networks have made homeschooling more accessible and achievable for families across the province.

The Alberta government has recognized homeschooling as a valid educational choice and has streamlined processes for families to communicate their homeschooling plans to school boards, further supporting its acceptance and integration into the educational landscape. This further contributes to the surge in homeschooling popularity in Alberta.

Ultimately, the recent surge in homeschooling’s popularity reflects a growing trend toward educational diversity and parental empowerment in Alberta. As more families discover and embrace the benefits of homeschooling, it is becoming increasingly recognized as a valuable and respected educational choice across the province.

Click here to start your Journey Homeschooling in Alberta with Schoolio.

Back to Homeschool

There’s an office-supply company locally that uses a parody of the Christmas song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” to advertise their back-to-school sales every year. And getting ready for starting your homeschool year can be the most wonderful time of the year! To make sure it’s a great year for you and your kids, here are a few things you can do to start off right.

1. Before you start your homeschool:

Plan ahead

Before you start your homeschool year, take a moment to grab a calendar. Things will go a lot smoother this year if you do a little bit of planning, especially if you’re a family that thrives with predictability. So, on your calendar, plan out your school year dates. What day will be the “official first day” of your homeschool year? When is the “last day of school”? And when is your fall vacation break, Christmas break, spring break and any other days off? Mark them all off on your calendar.

Create space

Next, gather up all the resources — books, curriculum, paper, pencils, etc — and put them where you can find them. You don’t necessarily need a dedicated homeschool room, but a dresser, shelf or cupboard where all the supplies and resources live, will help immensely. Give your homeschool a home base, so that you can find stuff when you need it.

Get supplies

Finally, it’s time to go shopping. Just because we homeschool doesn’t mean that we can’t take advantage of all those back-to-school sales! There’s just something about freshly sharpened pencils, brand-new glue sticks and crisp, blank notebooks that excites my kids about getting started. So, take the kids and go back-to-school shopping.

2. Get ready:

Clean out

Now that you have a plan and supplies, it’s time to get ready for school. Start with cleaning out the shelves from last year, if you haven’t already. Get rid of the old worn-out pencil sharpeners, the crinkled and torn papers, and the tiny bits-and-pieces of eraser lying around. Straighten up the books, sweep out the pencil shavings, and tidy up the paints and math manipulatives. Then you can put all those fresh new supplies away, ready for that first day.

Plan ahead

Next, do yourself a favour and plan out your first month of meals, at least. Starting a new school year can be busy, because it’s not just our studies that begin again, but all the extra activities do too! So, if you’ve got kids who will be doing swimming lessons, soccer, and Spanish classes this fall, you’ll probably be busy driving on top of everything else. Who has time to figure out what’s for dinner? Plan ahead.

Stock up

And stock up on snacks for the new school year, as well. If your kids are anything like mine, they’ve been used to raiding the fridge anytime they like over the summer, while fresh fruit and veggies are in ample supply. Keep up the good habits by stocking up on healthy snacks now, so that they (and you) aren’t tempted by more convenience foods later.

Make a note

Speaking of all those extracurricular activities, pull out your calendar again, and note down when those start dates are. Do you need to get new shoes for soccer? Are fees due for Scouting or piano lessons? Make a note to yourself of the extra costs and supplies you need to get. And you’ll also want to check for potential field trips or special events you want to attend with your homeschool community.

Adjust your routines.

And finally, it’s time to start adjusting your routines to accommodate a less casual day. If you’ve slipped into later bedtimes, less frequent baths (because they’ve been out at the splash pad or pool anyway!) and meals have been more “grazing” and less “sit-down”, you may want to start those habits again with your family. If you have a “school year” routine and a “summer” routine, take the time to adjust yourself and the kids from one to the other.

3. “Not Back to School”

In many homeschool support groups and communities, homeschooling families will celebrate with a “Not Back to School” party, potluck or picnic. These are awesome ways to connect with your community and celebrate homeschooling! And because we aren’t sending our kids to school, we have the flexibility to enjoy the last days of summer at parks, playgrounds, splash pads and trails without the same crowds.

Check with your local support group for dates and locations!

4. It’s the First Day of homeschool!

Homeschooling doesn’t mean you can’t do those cute “first day” traditions that public school parents do. Make your first day just as memorable and fun! Maybe you spend the day in pajamas? Or maybe there’s a special “first day” breakfast you make? Grab a fun sign and take pictures with the kids! Create your own special traditions to mark that first day.

5. Keep going.

Maybe your first day isn’t as fun as you hoped. Or maybe those first few weeks are a little rough. Homeschooling is all about the flexibility. So, keep going with your homeschooling, even if your first few days and weeks don’t go according to plan.

Don’t rush

There’s no need to rush on getting things done. So, it’s ok to take your time, and let the kids adjust to a new routine. Whether it’s your first year, third year or 18th year of homeschooling, not everything goes well the first time you do something. That’s normal. Take a deep breath, remind yourself why you chose to homeschool, and keep going.

Stay consistent

Follow the kids’ lead here. Sometimes it’s not going well because something isn’t working. But sometimes, it’s just a transition issue! It helps if you can stick to a routine as much as possible, and keep the house rules and expectations as clear as you can. When things change, sometimes kids start testing our patience again, just to see where the boundaries are. Stay consistent, and keep going.

Play with them

Take time out for play too! Public schooled kids get recess, and our kids can have much more. Homeschooling doesn’t have to be an all-day thing. So, go outside, break out the board games, or grab the craft supplies and have fun with your kids too. If the day has been hard, maybe a snuggle and a movie will lighten the mood.

Throw it out and start again

If your first days have a few bumps along the way, that’s ok. It should smooth out soon. But what if it doesn’t?

Well… homeschooling is about flexibility! Don’t be afraid to throw it all out, regroup and try again. Reach out to your support group, or favourite blogger, and get encouraged. Keep going!

Guest Blog - Sarah Wall

Sarah Wall is a pro at teaching her older kids and homeschooling teens. She also helps homeschool mamas do the same. After leaving an abusive marriage with 5 young children, launching a successful business, and creating a support community with several hundred members, Sarah believes there’s always a way to achieve your goals. It’s just about finding the right support. So, if you’re contemplating homeschooling teens, or middle schoolers, she believes that you can accomplish it.

Click here to learn more about Sarah Wall

Curious about how to start homeschooling in Canada?

Click here to read ‘How do I start Homeschooling in Canada?’