Edmonton Public Schools is looking into whether it should keep or scrap its requirement for second language instruction for its students.
Division rules currently set out that schools must teach at least one language, such as French, Spanish or others, in addition to English, through grades 4 to 9. The policy also encourages continued second language instruction into Grade 12.
The rule is currently 20 years old and the review comes as the division faces a space crunch at many schools, and has also added many more students who are English language learners.
Superintendent Ron Thompson said at a Tuesday board meeting that changing the requirement for language classes could help provide more flexibility.
He also said with the number of English language learners in the division, it might not make much sense to require another language to be taught on top of that.
“It’s extremely beneficial that we’re providing second language instruction to our students,” Thompson said. “But again, our context has changed.”
Thompson also stressed that the option to learn a new language within the division isn’t being reconsidered, just the requirement.
Trustees voted at Tuesday’s meeting to ask administration to develop a report on what engagement objectives for the language policy would look like. That vote came after questions arose from trustees about what was needed for proper engagement on the policy.
Thompson said that the policy was introduced back when the province was considering mandating French language instruction province-wide. He said Edmonton Public Schools proactively put its own language policy in place.
The province ended up not moving forward, and as a result, the division currently goes beyond what’s mandated.
While recognized as one of Canada’s official languages, taking French as a second language is entirely optional for students in Alberta. Instead, divisions can have local policies which make instruction in a second language mandatory, with French classes being common.
Trustees and administration said this specific policy was not about French instruction, but rather the benefits of any additional language for the division’s students.
Board chairman Saadiq Sumar said, “the real question is whether or not this should be a mandatory piece versus something that’s offered to students as an option.”
He added that there are a lot of factors at play, and there are a lot of possible outcomes for where the division could go with its policy.
“I’m really interested to see, if the next recommendation passes, what that engagement piece looks like and what students, families and staff have to say about this,” Sumar said.
Thompson said if engagement is greenlit by the board, it would likely take place throughout the 2026/27 school year. Afterwards, the administration would draft a report on its findings to bring back to the board of trustees.
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