Glossary of Terms

Associate Board or Associate Private (Independent) School (Supervising Authority) - Authorized by the government to supervise one or more home education program administrations. (Obligations of an Associate Board/Associate Private (Independent) School are defined elsewhere.) They are called "Associate" because they are working in conjunction with the home educating parent.

Assigned Teacher (often referred to as a Facilitator) - Hired by the Associate Board/Associate Private (Independent) School and supportive of the home education parent/student, they are assigned to support the home education program by performing the two (2) required evaluations of the progress of each student in the school year. They are to officially 'advise the parents' as to the progress of the student and must make recommendations to them on any matter that may assist the student in attaining a higher level of achievement, where necessary. They must follow legislation, policy, standards, orders and codes, including Alberta's Teaching Quality Standards, as it applies to the home education context.

Alberta Program of Studies - The provincial program of studies that lays out the material and expectations for students in all subjects and grades. In high school years, credits will be associated with these classes. (In contrast to the Schedule of Learning Outcomes.)

Combined Learning Outcomes - When a parent decides that their learning goals will be comprised of both the Alberta Program of Studies and the Schedule of Learning Outcomes. The parent has to write a Education Program Plan for the portion that is not predetermined by the government's outlined plan in the Alberta Program of Studies. This is subject to the approval of their Associate Board/Associate Private (Independent) School, who must provide assistance if requested.

Distance Learning - Where the location of the student has changed from a physical location in a school, but the responsibility has not and still resides with the teacher-directed program of the school.

Education Program Plan (EPP) or Individual Program Plan (IPP) - An outline of your learning plan for the year which guides your efforts to achieve progress in reaching the learning outcomes under either the Schedule of Learning Outcomes or the AB Program of Studies. These DO NOT have to be submitted to the government if you have opted for Notification Only. These DO have to be submitted if you have opted to notify with a Associate Board or Associate Private (Independent) School Assoc. (Supervising Authority).

Facilitator - See Assigned Teacher.

Home Education Program Administrations - Can have a unique name of their own, but function only under the supervision and structure of an Associate Board or Associate Private (Independent) School (Supervising Authority). May in some contexts be referred to as a service provider.

Learning Outcomes - Parents may choose between following the Alberta Program of Studies or the Schedule of Learning Outcomes (located at the end of the Home Education Regulations) or a combination of both.

Notification - The process by which a parent advises the government about their intention to educate their child. Only applicable to home education. (In contrast to registration.) 

Parent-directed - Authentic home education is recognizable by this factor. Parents have the ability and right to determine the place in which education occurs, as well as the content, process and timing of the education of their child/children. The parent may obtain the assistance or services of others, who do not have to be certified teachers, in order to enhance learning exposure on a subject. (In contrast to teacher-directed.)

Registration -  The process by which a parent requests agreement or permission to have their children educated by others. (In contrast to notification.)

Schedule of Learning Outcomes - A list of learning goals that you have until graduation to achieve. The overall outcomes are comparable to the provincial program of studies, but the method, material and timing of how you achieve it is left to the discretion of the parents. The list is located at the end of the Home Education Regulations. (In contrast to the AB Program of Studies.)

Student Records - are created and managed by either the parents or the assigned teacher hired by the Associate Board/Associate Private (Independent) School that is in a supervising relationship with the family. Parents and students both have the right to view these records at any time, as well as be advised of any entries related to the progress of the student by the assigned teacher. Once the child has reached the age of maturity, the parents no longer have the right to obtain these records, but the student does.

Supervising/School Authority - has been a term used to refer to an Associate Board or Associate Private (Independent) School authorized by the government to supervise one or more home education program administrations. They are called "Associate" because they are working in conjunction with the home educating parent.

Teacher-directed - Teachers direct the learning and timing of content that is not determined by the parent. Most often in a physical classroom, but is also obtained through distance learning (see definition), as location is not the determining factor. Teachers may NOT outsource their responsibilities to the parents or others, but are obligated to cover the content required directly to the student, which includes the timing of testing. (In contrast to parent-directed.)