Initiatives, Projects and Reviews

Locally Developed Courses Review

Background on Locally Developed Courses

Locally Developed Courses (LDCs) are developed and authorized by school authorities to provide their students with learning opportunities that complement provincially authorized programs. LDCs allow school authorities to be innovative and responsive at the local level. Education is committed to meeting the changing needs of students by encouraging flexibility to accommodate the special interests and abilities of students, and to address local community or parent interests.

School authorities develop senior high LDCs for submission to Education for review. As long as they do not overlap with or duplicate provincial programs and meet other requirements, the local school authority is notified so it can formally authorize them by a board motion. A record of the board motions is submitted to Education in order for the school authority to receive course codes indicating the courses are eligible to be offered for student credit and Credit Enrolment Unit (CEU) funding. 

LDCs can support language development and community interest in international languages through language and culture courses such as Arabic, Filipino, Hungarian, Polish, Russian and Vietnamese. First Nations, Métis and Inuit students also have opportunities to learn more about their language and culture through LDCs. LDCs can help prepare English as a Second Language (ESL) students and support their success in provincial courses in Mathematics, Science, Academic English and Canadian History. 

LDCs provide unique opportunities for students to explore a range of interests in subject areas or extend the learning outcomes in provincial programs. Courses such as Creative Writing and Publishing, Abnormal Psychology, Forensic Science Studies, Film Studies and Philosophy permit students to pursue their interests. LDCs are also developed to incorporate local expertise and local attractions in courses such as Palaeontology co-developed with the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology.

Strategic Review of Locally Developed Courses

Over the past year, Education has been engaging Albertans in an ongoing dialogue about many aspects of education through forums and activities, such as Inspiring Education, Speak-Out and Setting the Direction. The ideas and suggestions gathered from Albertans are providing key insights as we look at research and effective practices. This has set the stage to further examine the learning needs of students in the 21st century in relation to delivering curriculum at both the provincial and local levels. 

As part of the information gathering, Education is initiating a strategic review of LDCs (including religious studies LDCs), and will examine how the ministry should continue to provide support. The review will help assess whether LDCs, in their current form and administration, are effective and efficient in meeting student needs, provide school authorities with options for innovation and responsiveness, and align with the ministry’s strategic direction for the future. 

During the review, school authorities may continue to offer their currently authorized LDCs, students will continue to receive credits for course completions and Education will continue to fund LDCs that meet the current requirements. To facilitate the review, Education will not accept submissions for newly developed or newly acquired LDCs until the 2012/2013 school year.

School authorities will be able to renew or extend their currently authorized LDCs, providing these courses do not overlap with current or new provincial programs and that acquired courses are renewed by the developing board. 

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