In recent months, ASCA has received several emails from concerned parents and education stakeholders related to poor air quality in Alberta's classrooms.
On behalf of ASCA's Members, President Glazebrook has written Minister Nicolaides, reminding the Minister of ASCA Advocacy Policy 24-03 which calls on Alberta's Government to invest in modern HVAC systems for Alberta's schools.
Click here to download the letter to Minister Nicolaides.
In addition, immediately following ASCA's Spring Symposium and AGM, ASCA sent Minister Nicolaides a letter containing questions Symposium delegates had wanted to ask the Minister, but were unable to due to time restrictions. Minister Nicolaides responded on June 17th, with this letter.
ASCA also expected to receive a response from the Minister to the results of Advocacy Policy discussions ASCA's Members engaged in during the April 27th, 2025 AGM to share with you. While none has been received yet, a follow up email to the Minister's office, inquiring about a response from the Minister, hopes to yield a positive response soon!
While some education business may slow down over the summer months, ASCA will continue to monitor the education landscape for existing and arising education issues and concerns. The ASCA Board of Directors will diligently continue its advocacy efforts on behalf of ASCA's Member School Councils.
Sturgeon Public School Division Advocates for Inter-Ministerial Collaboration
Click to download pdf
ASCA Statement of Support (06.25.25 update):
The Alberta School Councils’ Association (ASCA) strongly supports the advocacy expressed by the Board of Trustees of Sturgeon Public Schools regarding the critical need for inter-ministerial collaboration among Education, Health, and Mental Health and Addiction. ASCA’s member-approved Advocacy Policies consistently call for increased, integrated mental health supports and accessible services in school settings to meet the diverse and complex needs of Alberta students and families.
Sturgeon Public Schools' proposal to align the restructuring of Alberta’s primary healthcare delivery with education-based mental health supports is both timely and aligned with ASCA’s long-standing position that schools must be equipped with resources and professional supports to foster safe, caring, respectful, and inclusive learning environments. A renewed, collaborative model—reminiscent of the former Regional Collaborative Service Delivery (RCSD) approach—can provide meaningful, system-wide impact.
ASCA commends Sturgeon Public Schools for their leadership and encourages the Government of Alberta to engage school boards, school councils and health agencies, in planning a framework that ensures all Alberta students have equitable access to the supports they need to thrive.
Ken Glazebrook ASCA President
ASCA Advocacy Update May 2025
ASCA's Board Welcomes 130+ Member School Councils to its 2025 AGM
Highlights from the 2025 ASCA Annual General Meeting
ASCA extends its sincere thanks to all who participated in the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on April 27th. Your engagement, thoughtful discussion, and feedback continue to shape the direction and priorities of the association.
The event welcomed over 130 Member School Councils, parent delegates and observers from across the province, representing diverse school communities and perspectives. Participants deliberated on advocacy resolutions and engaged in democratic processes that strengthen ASCA’s ability to represent parent voices in education.
Survey feedback indicated that the majority of attendees found the registration process smooth and the event well-organized. Many appreciated the clarity of materials provided in advance and the skillful moderation throughout the proceedings. While virtual participation remains a necessity for accessibility and affordability, a few respondents expressed interest in future in-person or hybrid formats to enhance networking and engagement.
Thank you to all members and volunteers who contributed their time, energy, and insight. Your voices matter—and your participation ensures ASCA continues to reflect the priorities of parents and school councils across Alberta.
We look forward to connecting again soon, and to building on this year’s momentum for even greater impact ahead.
ASCA Follows Up with Education Minister After April AGM and Symposium
The Alberta School Councils’ Association (ASCA) has followed up with Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides in a formal letter from President Ken Glazebrook, thanking him for his participation in the ASCA Symposium held online on April 26. More than 200 delegates from across Alberta attended the event, which featured a variety of education-related sessions and presentations from sector leaders.
ASCA expressed appreciation for the Minister’s engagement and his willingness to address questions from participants. However, due to time constraints, several questions submitted by delegates during his remarks could not be answered live. President Glazebrook’s letter includes these outstanding questions—unaltered and in full—covering critical topics such as funding transparency, investment in public vs. charter schools, curriculum implementation strategies, reconciliation education, French Immersion supports, and education worker compensation.
The letter also requests written responses from the Minister, which ASCA plans to share with its membership.
Additionally, the letter notes the successful completion of the ASCA Annual General Meeting on April 27, where 133 Member School Councils were represented. Delegates debated and adopted new Advocacy Resolutions, now being incorporated into ASCA’s updated Advocacy Policy Manual. ASCA also welcomed newly elected Board members: Meagan Parisian (Vice President) and Beverly McCool (Director).
President Glazebrook concluded the letter by requesting a meeting with the Minister before the end of June to discuss key advocacy priorities and extended an early invitation to the Minister for ASCA’s September Board Meeting.
School Councils Speak up for Alberta’s Parent Voice
The Alberta School Councils’ Association (ASCA) extends its sincere gratitude to Valley Creek School Council and the co-signing councils—Buffalo Rubbing Stone, Coventry Hills, Citadel Park, and Panorama Hills—for your powerful letter to Minister Nicolaides.
Your advocacy highlights the vital role school councils play in shaping Alberta’s education system and underscores the real impacts of defunding ASCA. We deeply appreciate your clear call for restored provincial funding and your invitation for meaningful dialogue between the Minister and ASCA members.
Your collective voice speaks to the strength, dedication, and unwavering commitment of Alberta parents. Thank you for standing with ASCA and championing the importance of parent engagement in public education.
Read the letter from Valley Creek School Council here:
ASCA was pleased to meet with Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) Executive on March 26, 2025, to further explore advocacy topics of mutual interest for the benefit of Alberta's students.
ASCA Advocacy Update March 2025
March 11 response from Minister Nicolaides
Pursuing ASCA's mandate of ensuring the Minister of Education is aware of education issue perspectives voiced by K-12 parents through School Councils, President Glazebrook reached out to Minister Nicolaides on two occasions in early February 2025, inviting opportunities for discussion on several topics.
President Glazebrook requested a meeting with Minister Nicolaides to advocate for ASCA Member's positions on the following:
Equity in Playground Funding (ASCA Advocacy Policy 24-04);
Embedding climate & biodiversity education throughout the K-12 Curriculum (ASCA Advocacy Policy 24-01);
Improving indoor air quality (IAQ) in Alberta classrooms and shared environments (ASCA Advocacy Policy 24-03);
Enhanced reporting of and support for class size and complexity (ASCA Advocacy Policy 24-07);
Potential funding opportunities for ASCA (ASCA Advocacy Policy 22-03).
Separately, President Glazebrook sent a letter to Minister Nicolaides to proactively bring attention to concerns heard relating to the Education Support Worker's strikes in various School Divisions, the rise in cyber attacks impacting records kept by School Divisions, and increases in digital threats and harms experienced by children. Included with that letter was the survey summary report approved by the ASCA Board of Directors relating to School Councils' use of the Alberta School Council Engagement (ASCE) Grant.
ASCA was pleased to receive two (2) letters (March 11 and March 13) from Minister Nicolaides in response to these concerns; however was disappointed by some of the content in each, in addition to not being granted an opportunity for a meeting.
ASCA Advocacy Update February 2025
Letter to ASCA from Education Minister Jan 2025
Education Amendment Act, 2024
In early December 2024, ASCA President Ken Glazebrook sent a letter to Education Minister Nicolaides, once again expressing ASCA's Members' concerns with proposed changes noted in the Education Amendment Act, 2024. Specifically, President Glazebrook highlighted support for maintaining the practice of parents needing to "opt out" of sexual education instruction for their child(ren), rather than the proposed change for it to be an "opt in" process.
Minister Nicolaides responded in January, citing engagment with approximately 250 stakeholders prior to crafting this new legislation, and support for enabling parents to be more involved in thier children's education. In closing, the Minister stated that the government "will continue to work with education partners throughout the implementation of these policies to ensure the right supports are available where and when they are needed."
ASCA Members' Engagement
The ASCA Board of Directors is pleased to have received Proposed Advocacy Resolutions (PARs) from some of its Member School Councils. Once ready for publication, these Member Sponsored PARs along with any being proposed by the ASCA Board, will be available for Member School Councils to discuss with their school communities, in preparation for voting at the 2025 ASCA AGM. If passed by a majority of ASCA Members present at the AGM, they help to form the Association perspective on education issues and initiatives, and inform discussions and advocacy efforts with education partners, stakeholders, and the Ministry of Education. Read ASCA's Advocacy Policy Manual here.
ASCA Advocacy Update November 2024
Sexual Education Advocacy (Bill 27)
The ASCA Board of Directors was pleased to receive a letter from Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB) Chair Trustee Julie Kusiek, related to Advocacy for 2SLGBTQIA+ Rights.
Within the letter and attached report received by EPSB Trustees at their November 5th Board meeting, ASCA is acknowledged for its ongoing advocacy to ensure safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning spaces for all students in Alberta.
ASCA will continue to discuss these important concerns with the Education Minister, Ministry staff, and education partners as plans for the implementation of Bill 27 - the Education Amendment Act - unfold.
In addition, during the November 23, 2024 School Council Virtual Engagement Event hosted by the ASCA Board of Directors, Past President Rai provided a summary of current education issues, initiatives, and legislative changes on which ASCA has advocated on behalf of its Member School Councils. Click here to download a copy of the summary.
click on the image to download ASBOA's Report
2024 Cost Pressures Report - Association of School Business Officials of Alberta (ASBOA)
To gain a clearer understanding of current operational cost pressures, ASBOA launched a data compilation project to examine acute (emerging) and chronic (long-term) operational expense challenges in education from a provincial perspective, excluding capital and instructional costs.
The “Targeted Cost Pressures Initiative” focuses on operational expenditures that ASBOA members have identified as having risen significantly over the past three years, without sufficient funding to address specific fixed and uncontrollable costs. As part of this effort, ASBOA collected data on key operational expenses from the past three years, along with cost projections for the 2024/25 school year.
The 2024 Cost Pressures Report aims to inform Alberta Education's 2025-2026 business planning by highlighting funding gaps and systemic needs, encouraging proactive funding changes. The report identifies strategies school jurisdictions use to manage costs and explores opportunities to save through economies of scale and provides benchmarks for school jurisdictions to compare their costs across categories.
This report offers validated data to support Education Partners and advocacy efforts at both provincial and local levels. ASCA is grateful to ASBOA for undertaking this important work, and will utilize the data within it to inform current and future advocacy efforts on behalf of our Members.
ASCA Advocacy Update October 2024
ASCA President Ken Glazebrook, October 2024
ASCA President Ken Glazebrook, Past President Brandi Rai, and Executive Director Wendy Keiver met with Minister Nicolaides on October 15, 2024. The focus on the discussion was the Advocacy Policies passed by ASCA Members at the 2024 AGM related to Preserving Safe and Inclusive Spaces for 2SLGBTQI+ Students (P24-05) and ER24-01 Opposing the Alberta Government's Proposed Policies Re: "Preserving Choice for Children and Youth".
The Minister listened attentively and informed the ASCA Executive team that the Alberta Government would be bringing forward its proposed policies and regulations this fall. The Minister indicated that opportunities for providing feedback would still continue.
ASCA Advocacy Update September 2024
ASCA Board Sept 21, 2024
Your Board of Directors welcomed Education Minister Nicolaides to its meeting on Saturday, September 21st and provided the Minister with perspectives they’d heard from parents around the province related to enrollment, facility and transportation pressures, funding for critical student supports, and ensuring the continued inclusion and support of 2SLGBTQI+ students in Alberta schools.
ASCA Advocacy Update June 2024
Shortly after ASCA Member School Councils approved 21 new Advocacy Policies (APs) at the Association’s 2024 AGM, newly elected president, Kerry Bodell started ASCA’s advocacy efforts by sending letters to the six (6) Ministers identified in the new Advocacy Policies, and requested a meeting with Education Minister Nicolaides to discuss some of them.
Minister Nicolaides met with the ASCA Executive team on June 4th, and President Bodell highlighted the rationale of the following APs: P24-04 – Equity in Playground Funding, P24-06 – Resource Support for French Immersion Teachers (Available Before Implementation of Curriculum Changes), ER24-02 – Preserve Non-Partisan Elections for Alberta School Board Trustees, P24-03 – Improving Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in Alberta Classrooms & Shared Environments. The Minister and his staff were very attentive, engaging meaningfully in the discussions, and committing to provide ASCA with information and updates on some of the items discussed.
A subsequent meeting with the Minister has also been requested, to address the eight (8) APs adopted focused on 2SLGBTQI+ students. President Bodell and the ASCA Board of Directors will continue to provide updates and information to ASCA’s Members, as they are received.
President Bodell has also met with several education partners and stakeholders in the last two months, using each of these opportunities to advance ASCA Members’ perspectives on many of the issues and topics identified at the 2024 and previous AGMs.
ASCA’s Advocacy Policy Manual is being updated to reflect the addition of the 21 new Advocacy Policies and will be posted publicly as soon as this work is completed.
As the 2024-2025 ASCA Board of Directors identifies its priorities for the upcoming year, ongoing efforts of Advocacy and Member engagement will remain a strong focus.
