School Leaders

Certificate of School Completion

The Certificate of School Completion in special education can be awarded to students with significant cognitive disabilities who meet the qualification criteria listed below. Students must be nominated by the Principal/Assistant Principal of their school.

Qualification Criteria

  • By the end of the current school year, the nominee has been a student for at least twelve years (and is 17 years of age by March 1 of the current year).

  • The school year in which the nomination is being submitted is the student’s last year of school programming.

  • This student has a significant cognitive delay; has participated in special education programming and has been identified with one of the following special education codes at the time of school completion:  41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 59. 

  • This student has worked toward goals and objectives in an Individualized Program Plan (IPP) that is consistent with AB Education requirements.

  • The student will usually not have achieved credits in any of the four core subject areas:  mathematics, science, social studies and English language arts. 

  • Due to significant cognitive disabilities, this student is not able to achieve any of the following certificates:

    • Alberta High School Diploma
    • Diplôme d'études secondaires de L'Alberta
    • High School Equivalency Diploma
    • Diplôme d'equivalence d'études secondaires
    • Certificate of Achievement (IOP)
    • Certificate of High School Achievement (Knowledge and Employability)
    • Certificat de Réussite d'études secondaires (Connaissances et employabilité)
  • The school verifies that credits achieved by this student have not been applied to a Diploma or Certificate of High School Achievement (Knowledge and Employability).

Procedures

  • All nominations must be made electronically within the submission period of April 01 to December 31 of the year in which the student completes their last year of schooling (e.g. the submission period for a student who completed schooling in June 2010 was April 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010; the submission period for a student who completes schooling in June 2011 is April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011).
  • User Guides provide detailed instructions for Administrative Assistants and Principals/Assistant Principals

  • Entering the Alberta Student Number (ASN) in the Certificate of School Completion online application produces a partially filled nomination form.  The school must confirm that the nominee satisfies the criteria.  The form is then “Saved” or “Submitted”.

  • All “Saved” nominations need to be also “Submitted” in order to be reviewed by Alberta Education.  These are separate and discrete steps.  

  • If an “Exception” to a criterion is being claimed, an explanation must be provided in the Exception box.

  • The status of a nomination can be viewed on the school’s Extranet.  Status flags include Saved, Accepted, Pending, Denied, Returned, Approved and Printed.

  • Certificates for approved nominations will be mailed to the student’s home address.

  • For nominations received before September 15th, Certificates will be mailed in early October when Diplomas and other Certificates are mailed by Alberta Education.

  • If a nomination is “Returned”, please provide information requested in the Return Reason and “Submit” again.

  • If a nomination is “Denied”, the reason for denial will be provided.  Denials can be appealed

  • To nominate a student who completed the school prior to the current school year, a Retroactive Nomination Request Form must be submitted manually.  For more information please contact Education Manager, Inclusive Learning Supports Branch, Connie Ohl, at  Connie.Ohl@gov.ab.ca.