Administrative Procedure 130

SCHOOL YEAR AND CALENDAR

Background

The Charter Board shall be responsible for defining the school year and establishing the annual school year calendar in harmony with the requirements of Alberta Education. The Superintendent will direct the development of the School Year Calendar and bring a recommendation to the Board.

Procedures
1. The Charter Board will determine by March 31 of each year the essential dates of the school year which begins in the Fall of that year.
2. Dates may be determined which are consistent with the following:
2.1 Teachers and other designated staff will commence duty a minimum of at least two (2) days prior to the arrival of students.
2.2 Classes will commence approximately the last week of August or the first week of September, in order to accommodate provincial achievement tests.
2.3 A Winter Break of at least two (2) weeks duration will be provided.
2.4 A Spring Break of one (1) week duration will be provided,
2.5 The last operational day in a school year will be the last Friday in June, depending upon the Provincial examination schedule.
2.6 At least the last two (2) operational days will be workdays for teachers and other designated staff, with no students in attendance, dependent upon the Provincial examination schedule.
2.7 The school year calendar will align as much as possible with the school year calendar of the neighboring jurisdiction (Peace Wapiti) to accommodate families with children in both systems.
2.8 The Board, at its discretion, may permit compressed school weeks provided the total number of instructional hours are no less than the minimum (950 hours for Grades 1-9 and 475 for ECS) with due consideration for potential loss of time due to weather related closures. A compressed school week means that the required instructional hours are met by having longer instructional days but fewer overall.
3. In any year that following section two (2) above creates a shortfall in the required hours of school operation for the school year, the Board will vary the prescribed outline of the school year in order to meet the requirements of Alberta Education.
4. The Charter Board will review the recommendations and approve a final calendar, by resolution, no later than the end of April and immediately provided to the School.
5. A copy of the approved calendar will be submitted to Alberta Education before May

References: Section 18, 19, 25, 26, 33, 51, 52, 53, 60, 197,

222 Education Act Guide to Education ECS to Grade 12