AP 302: Right Of Access To Education
Organization & Culture
Background
In accordance with the Education Act (section 3), the Division provides education programming for resident students who at September 1 in a year are between six (6) and nineteen (19) years of age.
Additionally, the Division provides Early Childhood Services for students younger than six (6) years of age, and access to learning opportunities for students who are older than nineteen (19) years, and younger than twenty (20) years on September 1 of the year in which the student is enrolled.
Procedures
With respect to enrolment:
1. For Kindergarten enrolment: any child being enrolled in a kindergarten program must have attained the age of five (5) years on or before the last day of December of the school year in which the student is enrolled.
2. Notwithstanding regular Kindergarten enrolment, a child with special needs may be enrolled in an Early Childhood Services program at an earlier age, as per Alberta Education regulations and Administrative Procedure 220 – Early Childhood Development and Services.
3. It is expected that the majority of students shall complete high school within three (3) years of enrolling in grade 10;
3.1. Students less than twenty (20) years of age on September 1 of a school year and wishing to enrol for an additional year or years may be accommodated through Connections for Learning.
4. Notwithstanding section (3) above, a Principal of a senior high school may enroll a student in an additional year or years if, in the Principal’s opinion:
4.1. Space and/or resources at the school are available to meet the student's needs, and/or;
4.2. The student presents special needs or circumstances that cannot be addressed through other alternatives.
Registration Procedures:
5. For admission to any Parkland School Division school, the parent or independent student shall complete an annual online registration that identifies the following information:
5.1. The student’s legal name and any other surnames by which the student or child is known; notably
5.1.1. As registered under the Vital Statistics Act, if the student or child was born in Alberta, or
5.1.2. As registered under the applicable legislation of the province or territory in which the student or child was born, if the student or child was born in a province or territory of Canada other than Alberta, or
5.1.3. As shown on the documents under which the student or child was lawfully admitted to Canada, if the student or child was born outside Canada.
5.2. Proof of guardianship of the student or child and any custodial documents evidencing limitations or specialized provisions relating to the guardianship, care, or parental access to information related to the student or child;
5.3. The student’s date of birth;
5.4. The student’s gender;
5.5. The Parent(s) and/or guardian(s) information, including the name of the student’s or child’s parent(s),
5.6. The address(es), email address(es) and contact numbers for the student or child and of the student’s or child’s parent(s);
5.7. Information regarding the residence, as defined in, and in accordance with, the Education Act (section 4);
6. The Legal name and proof of age shall be verified by the Principal or designate through reference to one (1) of a birth certificate, a passport, or a certified copy of birth registration (Student Record Regulation (97/2019) s. 2(5)(i)).
7. The Principal shall ensure that proper verification of legal name and age is obtained for each student at the point of registration; however,
7.1. The parent or guardian may make a temporary, statutory declaration regarding the student's legal name and age, provided a reasonable timeline is established, with the Principal or designate, to obtain the documents that are legally required by the Alberta Student Record Regulation.
8. Where guardianship issues may be problematic or unclear, legal documentation confirming guardianship shall be expected prior to registration.
Approved:
