Education Policy

K-12 Education Reform in Alberta

— Nov 22, 2018

K-12 Education Reform in Alberta finds that the Alberta government can improve K-12 education by implementing a series of reforms to both the public and independent school systems, including: experimenting with teacher incentive pay, allowing for-profit schools (as they do in Sweden), and relaxing the limits and restrictions on charter schools.

Comparing the Standardized Test Scores of British Columbia’s Public and Independent Schools

— Jun 26, 2018

Comparing the Standardized Test Scores of British Columbia’s Public and Independent Schools finds that over a five-year period, students at non-elite independent schools averaged statistically significant higher scores than public students in 10 of the province’s 11 standardized tests in both elementary and secondary schools, even though after-tax incomes for families with children at both types of schools are the same.

Recent Education Commentaries and Blog Posts

Alberta should look to B.C. for education reform options

Angela MacLeod

B.C. spent $11,216 per student annually on public schools compared to $13,115 in Alberta.

Provinces should introduce incentive pay for teachers

Angela MacLeod

Research documents successful performance-based incentive experiments in England, India, Israel, Houston and Nashville.

Alberta needs education reform

Ben Eisen, Angela MacLeod

The share of Grade 9 students in Alberta scoring “below acceptable standards” in math increased more than 34 per cent.

Alberta government should increase access to for-profit schools

Jason Clemens, Angela MacLeod

Appeared in the National Newswatch, December 11, 2018

A common barrier to more independent schools is the cost of construction and/or expansion of existing facilities.

Alberta should foster greater growth of charter schools

Angela MacLeod

Charter schools outperformed all other types of schools in Alberta’s Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) written in Grades 6 and 9.

Independent schools key to improving K-12 education in Alberta

Angela MacLeod, Jason Clemens

Appeared in the Edmonton Sun, November 23, 2018

Alberta has experienced a decline in student scores in reading, science and math.

Dollars and Sense of Education Reform in B.C.

Jason Clemens, Angela MacLeod

Families are sensitive to the price of education, which is why provinces that do not provide funding generally have much lower rates of independent school enrolment.

Ontario should increase support for independent schools in light of falling math scores

Angela MacLeod, Ben Eisen

Appeared in the Ottawa Sun, September 5, 2018

Less than half of Grade 6 students met the provincial benchmark in math last school year.

Ontario should look to B.C. as a model for education reform

Angela MacLeod

Appeared in the North Bay Nugget, August 11, 2018

Spending on education in Ontario continues to rise.

Education reform must be on the table in Ontario

Jason Clemens, Sazid Hasan

Appeared in the Toronto Sun, July 8, 2018

Ontario is one of only three provinces that deliver religious education in the public school system.

Research Experts

Vicki Alger

Director, Women for School Choice Project, Independent Women's Forum
Derek J. Allison

Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Education, The University of Western Ontario
Jason Clemens

Executive Vice President, Fraser Institute
Stephen T. Easton

Professor of Economics, Simon Fraser University
Angela MacLeod

Senior Policy Analyst, Fraser Institute
Deani Van Pelt

Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute

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Education Policy

K-12 Education Reform in Alberta

Comparing the Standardized Test Scores of British Columbia’s Public and Independent Schools

Research Experts