Public School Boards' Association of Alberta
What is Public School Education?
The PSBAA is a voluntary membership association incorporated as a non-profit society according to the laws of Alberta. Members are school jurisdictions, not individuals. We have 33 members.
There are 42 public school jurisdictions in Alberta: 31 belong to the Association. The St. Albert Protestant Separate School District also belongs to the PSBAA as it is the defacto public school system in that city.
Our members educate most of the public school students in Alberta.
Our Mission is:
To ensure the continuation and constant improvement of a universally accessible system of public education, which is locally governed, student centred, and challenging.
Our Goal is:
To provide constructive leadership – represented by effective strategies, advocacy and communication – and to work with others, wherever possible, for the good of public education.
Public school education does more than educate students – it also acts as a working model of civil society, and thereby helps to create, sustain, and improve our communities. One of our province’s greatest successes is the development of a public education system that is focused on educating and encouraging students to develop into responsible, caring and contributing citizens – building Alberta’s future one student at a time.
Public school education is inclusive, from the classroom to the boardroom to the voting booth, because supporters believe that an inclusive education is best for students and for the community, and an inclusive democratic government for education is best for the community. Public school education is barrier-free. Public school education is respectful of every student, every other worker, and every citizen.
Only public schools provide public education. Only public schools:
- guarantee that every child will have a place in the jurisdiction or in the care of the jurisdiction;
- are governed by a democratic process that is open to every member of the community regardless of religious convictions, racial origin, economic or other circumstances; and
- promote civil democracy in preference to any sectarian perspective as the basis for thriving communities; and, celebrate diversity among students and in our communities by working with communities, staff and students from different backgrounds, outlooks and experiences.
The Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta is committed to working with our member boards, parents, teachers, administrators, government officials, and the public to ensure that all their talents and strengths continue to benefit public education.
