Private Schools  |  Private Schools in Alberta

The Government of Alberta recognizes that parents have the right to choose a private school for their children and has provided financial support for private schools since 1967.  There are over 250 private schools and private Early Childhood Service providers in Alberta.  

What kinds of private schools are there in Alberta?

The School Act, Section 28, authorizes two kinds of private schools to operate in Alberta: registered private schools and accredited private schools. 

Registered Private Schools

Registered Private Schools, defined under Section 28(1) of the School Act, meet the basic registration requirements established by the Minister, are not eligible for Alberta Education funding, are not required to teach the Alberta Programs of Study but are required to have outcomes consistent with The Ministerial Order on Student Learning (Ministerial Order 001/2013)  and their instructors are not required to have Alberta Teaching Certificates.

Accredited Private Schools

Accredited Private Schools are accredited by the Minister under section 28(2) of the School Act.  These private schools seek additional recognition beyond basic registration to receive accredited status.  All accredited non-funded private schools must enroll seven or more students from two or more families.  There are three categories of accredited private schools.  

• Accredited non-funded are mostly language and culture schools, but some focus on adult education. 
• Accredited funded are entitled to partial provincial funding for meeting educational standards.   Section 13 of the Government Organization Act provides the authority to provide funding to private schools under the School Grants Regulation A.R. 72/95),   amended AR206/2001.  Students write the provincial tests and are taught the Alberta Programs of Study by Alberta certificated teachers. Schools receive either Level 1 or Level 2 funding, as per the Funding Manual. 
• Designated Special Education Private Schools (DSEPS) serve only students with special needs and which meet the criteria outlined in the Funding Manual.  These schools provide education services to students who are entitled to special education programs, receive special education funding at rates equal to those provided to the public system and meet the same accountability requirements for this special education funding as public jurisdictions.  

Heritage Language Schools 

Heritage Language Schools offer programming for students in Early Childhood Services to Grade 12. Heritage language schools may use Alberta  Education approved courses to offer the eight provincially developed international language programs.  Funding may be provided through the Credit Enrolment Unit (CEU) funding system for these provincially authorized courses or via Alberta Education approved Locally Developed/Authorized high school courses.