Edmonton Public Schools Alternative Programs Overview

1. School Closure Moratorium CommitteeSeptember 20, 2011 Alternative Programs and Open Boundaries

2. Underlying Beliefs Regarding Alternatives in Education • To provide choice among programs • To broaden the range of program offerings • To increase public awareness and participation in education • To personalize instruction • To provide continual growth and renewal

3. History of Alternative Programs • Alternative programs are board approved programs that emphasize a particular language, culture, religion, subject-matter, or teaching philosophy • Edmonton Public Schools offers approximately thirty alternative programs to provide different paths to achieve academic and personal success

4. History of Open Boundaries • Edmonton Public parents have choices as to where to send their child for his or her education • Students can attend any school in the District, as long as the school has available space and the student qualifies for entry

5. Transportation • Transportation to alternative programs was initiated by the Board of Trustees • Transportation funding comes from two sources • Block grant from the Province • Bus pass fees paid by parents • The Board approves transportation fees on a yearly basis, including transportation to alternative programs

6. Number of Alternative Programs The District currently has approximately thirty Alternative Programs • Subject Matter • Arts Core, Academic Alternative, Advanced Placement, Edmonton Professional School of Ballet, International Baccalaureate (IB) PYP, MY, Diploma, Pre-Advanced Placement, Science Alternative, Sports Alternative • Faith-based • Logos, Edmonton Christian, Meadowlark Christian, Mill Woods Christian, Sakinah Circle • Language and Culture • Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Aboriginal, American Sign Language, Cree Extended, Hebrew, International Spanish Academy, Ukrainian Bilingual • Teaching Philosophy • Caraway, Child Study Centre, Cogito, Nellie McClung, Traditional, Waldorf

7. Alternative ProgramLocations

8. Enrolment in Alternative Programs • District Enrolment September 30, 2010 = 79,911 • District Alternative Program Enrolment = 22,316 (28%)

9. New Alternative Program Sites • New alternative programs may be established over time in response to demand • Alternative programs are distributed to schools taking into consideration a number of factors including: • Demand for the program • Space in existing schools to accommodate the program • Proximity of space to student residences • Availability of qualified staff • Transportation • Impact on other programs • Requirement for facility modifications

10. Stand Alone Alternative Programs • Alternative programs are distributed to schools accommodating a regular program. They are intended to operate along side of the regular program • The alternative program becomes the only program when there are not sufficient students enrolled in the regular program • The following schools have experienced this pattern: • Elmwood • Glengarry • Mill Creek • Mount Pleasant • Queen Alexandra • Rio Terrace • Victoria

11. 5373 5638 NC NW NE 2577 3681 3820 4465 Kindergarten to Grade 9 Enrolment vs Residency September 30, 2010 Enrolment Data W1 7283 5829 W2 3622 6198 7384 4111 C 10007 5428 SC 7561 9109 9894 11371 SW SE

12. Utilization and Alternative ProgramLocations 70% 65% 60% 57% 64% 70% 63% 78% 73%

13. Questions..