When the Province of Alberta was founded in 1905, the Department of Education continued to function under the authority of the School Ordinance. In 1922, the School Ordinance was repealed and superseded by The Department of Education Act (R.S.A. 1922 c. 16) and The School Act (R.S.A. 1922 c. 51).

The Department of Education was dissolved May 27, 1999 by means of Order in Council 243/99 under the authority of the Government Organization Act.

Functional responsibility:
The Department of Education was responsible for the planning, development and implementation of the education system in Alberta.

At the time that the department was created, it was responsible for all kindergarten schools, public and separate elementary and secondary schools, normal schools, teachers’ institutes, and the education of physically and mentally handicapped children.

The department was responsible for overseeing and approving the creation of school jurisdictions, approving the establishment of schools by school boards, inspection of schools, development of a standardized curriculum, overseeing the financing and administration of school jurisdictions, and overseeing the building of school facilities. The department also certified teachers who wished to work in Alberta and who had received their training outside the province.

In 1922, technical and commercial schools came under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Education. Technical and vocational education programs were often provided by means of agreements between the Province and the Government of Canada, which used Alberta post-secondary technical institutes to provide federal technical training programs. The Minister was also made responsible for the licensing of private commercial and correspondence schools.

In 1925, an amendment to the School Act allowed school boards to establish public junior colleges affiliated with the University of Alberta. As a consequence, the department became involved in post-secondary education provided through public colleges. Until 1969, public junior colleges were operated by school boards or consortia of school boards. With the passage of the Colleges Act in 1969, all public junior colleges became board-governed institutions. Between 1969 and 1971, the department’s role in the funding and administration of public colleges was mediated through the Colleges Commission.

The Minister was responsible for the administration of the University Act from the time it was first passed in 1910, though the department was not directly involved in the operations of the University of Alberta. The department provided capital and operating grants to the university, which was administered by its Board of Governors. In 1966 the department’s relationship with the province’s universities was clarified through the new Universities Act. This act created the Universities Commission, through which the department’s interaction with the province’s public universities was mediated.

The department administered programs that provided financial assistance for the secondary and post-secondary education of the children of veterans of the First and Second World Wars. Financial assistance programs for university and college students, administered through the Students Assistance Board (renamed the Students Finance Board in 1971), were the responsibility of the department.

In late 1971, responsibility for all post-secondary education, the Colleges Commission, the Universities Commission, and the Students Finance Board was transferred to the new Department of Advanced Education by means of a series of administrative transfers.

The Minister of Education was responsible for the administration of the following statutes:

• The School Ordinance,
• The School Assessment Ordinance,
• The School Grants Ordinance,
• The School Act,
• The Department of Education Act,
• The School Grants Act,
• The Truancy Act,
• The University Act,
• The School Districts Relief Act,
• The Registered Nurses Act, (1916-21 only),
• The Mental Defectives Act, (1919-22 only),
• The School Attendance Act ,
• The Public Libraries Act,
• The Teachers’ Retirement Fund Act,
• The Teaching Profession Act,
• The Education of the Children of Deceased and Disabled Service Men’s Act,
• The Education of Service Men’s Children Act,
• The School Buildings Assistance Act,
• The Students Assistance Act,
• The Emergency Teacher Training Act,
• The School Secretaries’ Superannuation Act,
• The Public Junior Colleges Act,
• The Students Assistance Act, 1959,
• The Teachers’ Retirement Supplementary Fund Act,
• The School Buildings Act,
• University and College Assistance Act,
• The Mount Royal Junior College Act,
• Universities Act,
• Colleges Act,
• Students Loan Guarantee Act,
• Alberta Educational Communications Corporation Act (1973-81),
• Northland School Division Act,
• Remembrance Day Act,
• Teachers’ Pension Plans Act,
• Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities Act (1988-96),
• Government Organization Act, schedule 4, schedule 3 section 2
• Alberta School Boards Association Act, and all regulations that fall under these acts.

Predecessor and successor bodies:
The predecessor of the Department of Education of the Province of Alberta was the Department of Education of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

When the Department of Education was dissolved in 1999, its functions were divided between two new ministries. Responsibility for school buildings was transferred to Alberta Infrastructure. All other functions were transferred to Alberta Learning.

Administrative relationships:
The Department of Education reported to the Legislative Assembly through the Minister of Education. The Minister also passed to the Legislative Assembly the annual reports of the semi-independent agencies that reported to him until 1971, the Students’ Finance Board, the Colleges Commission and the Universities Commission.

Administrative Structure:
For the first thirty years of the department’s operation, its activities were focused on overseeing the establishment, operation and alteration of school divisions, the inspection of schools and classrooms, ensuring an adequate supply of teachers, and overseeing the business activities of school jurisdictions.

By 1917, the department’s administrative structure had largely taken the shape it was to have for the next thirty years. The main components of the department were the school inspectorate, the province’s Normal Schools, the School Libraries and Free Readers Branch (later re-named the School Book Branch), the School Debenture Branch, the Chief Attendance Officer, and the Provincial Board of Examiners. In 1919 a number of new positions were established, including the Supervisor of Schools, the Registrar, the Director of Technical Education, the Supervisor of Schools, and the Secretary of the department.

The first major re-organization of the department took place in 1945. The administrative structure of the department became more hierarchical and the core functions of school supervision and administration were reorganized into two new divisions under the Chief Superintendent of Schools and the Director of School Administration, respectively. The heads of the Technical Education, Correspondence School, and the School Book branches continued to report directly to the Deputy Minister. Significant reorganizations of the department occurred in 1970, 1975, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1994 and 1997.

In 1997, the Department of Education became the Ministry of Education. The Ministry was made up of three entities, the Department of Education (which continued the functions and activities of the previous department), the Education Revolving Fund, and the Alberta School Foundation Fund. This structure remained the same until the dissolution of the Ministry of Education on May 27, 1999.

1. Inspection and supervision of schools
Inspection of schools and classrooms was the responsibility of school and high school inspectors located across the province. Until 1945, inspectors reported directly to the Deputy Minister. In 1945, they were placed under the direct supervision of the Chief Inspector of Schools. At this time, the position was renamed Chief Superintendent of Schools. The inspectorate was responsible for overseeing program delivery in schools. Inspectors reported on a number of matters, including general conditions and operation of schools, school administration, equipment in schools, special services, and liaison activities of superintendents.

In 1953 the branch was renamed the Instruction Branch. In 1954, the branch was brought under the new Division of Instruction. At this time the branch was renamed the Inspection and Supervision Branch, which was directly responsible for all school inspection and supervision. During the 1950’s, the activities of school inspectors became more directed to providing consulting and research services to school jurisdictions. In 1968, as a result of amendments to the School Act, school superintendents began to be locally appointed. By 1971, all school superintendents were employed by school boards.

2. Education and certification of teachers
Between 1906 and 1945, the training of teachers was the responsibility of the province’s Normal Schools. These schools functioned as branches of the department, and their principals reported to the Deputy Minister of Education. Schools were established at Edmonton, Camrose, Calgary and Lethbridge. In 1945, responsibility for all pre-employment teacher education was transferred to the University of Alberta. At this time, the Board of Teacher Education and Certification was created in order to provide advice to the Minister and the Faculty of Education of the University of Alberta on matters relating to teacher education and certification, and to act as an intermediary between the department and the Faculty of Education. The Registrar acted as the Secretary to the Board, which functioned much as a branch of the department.

Maintaining records about the certification of teachers was the responsibility of the Registrar. This responsibility continued from the time of the creation of this office in 1919 until the dissolution of the department in 1999. In 1954, this office was renamed the Teacher Certification and Records Branch.

In 1983, the Board of Teacher Education and Certification was dissolved. The Teacher Certification and Development Branch was created to take on the Board’s functions. The branch became responsible for administering the department’s relationship with the Teaching Profession Appeal Board and the Board of Reference created under the School Act.

3. Curriculum development
The development of a standardized curriculum was the responsibility of the Supervisor of Schools until 1945. In 1945, the Curriculum Branch was created. The Director of Curriculum reported to the Chief Superintendent of Schools. The Curriculum Branch was responsible for all matters relating to textbooks, supervision of exam procedures, and the creation of all provincial elementary and secondary curriculum. The curriculum development activities of the branch were performed by a number of committees. In 1969, the branch was renamed the Curriculum Development Branch.

The Director of Curriculum was also responsible for overseeing the School Broadcasts Branch. In 1944, the Audio-Visual Aids Branch was created to coordinate provision of curriculum support educational recordings and visual aids for classroom use. In 1964, the School Broadcasts and Audio Visual Services branches were merged. In 1984, audio visual and school broadcasts programs were separated from the Curriculum Branch to create a new branch, the Media and Technology Branch.

4. Financing the school system
Overseeing the financing and administration of school jurisdictions was originally the responsibility of the School Debenture Branch and the Secretary of the department in conjunction with the Public Utilities Board, which had the final authority to authorize school debenture issues. The Debenture Branch was responsible for overseeing the issue of debentures by school jurisdictions, coordinating Ministerial permission of debenture issues, and in some cases, acting as sales agent for school jurisdictions. By the late 1940’s, the branch’s primary activity was advising school trustee boards regarding debenture issues.

In 1959, amendments to The Municipal Financing Corporation Act brought school jurisdictions under its provisions. From this point onwards, the principal means of school financing was through municipal assessments. As a consequence, the department was no longer responsible for administering the sale of debentures by school jurisdictions.

5. Supervising the operations of school jurisdiction administrations
Beginning in 1927, audits of school jurisdiction financial records was performed under the supervision of the Secretary of the department. In 1942, the department began to have auditors on permanent staff. In 1945, all activities relating to school grants and supervision of school jurisdiction administrations became the responsibility of the new School Administration Branch. Under the Director of School Administration were appointed Field Officers who were responsible for the direction and supervision of offices of school jurisdictions, overseeing administration and accounting practices to ensure that they met department requirements. The branch acted as a liaison between the department and school jurisdictions, and was responsible for the establishment of school districts and processing boundary changes. In 1946, the administration of school grants was transferred to the new School Grants Branch. In 1955, the School Administration Branch was renamed the School Administration Division.

In 1966, in order to facilitate communication between the department and school board offices, the Division of School Administration established four regional Field Administration Officers to act as liaison. In 1971, all department field staff were relocated to six regional offices. These offices combined supervisory and consulting services and all aspects of school administration supervision, excepting school buildings. In 1983, the branch was renamed the School Business Administrative Services Branch.

6. Overseeing construction of school facilities
While individual school jurisdictions were responsible for the construction of schools, the department created guidelines for school facilities. As well, school jurisdictions required the permission of the Minister before they could issue debentures to finance school construction. The School Buildings Branch was responsible for these activities. The branch approved plans for school construction and renovation projects. The branch provided support services to the School Buildings Board, which assessed applications for school construction projects.

7. Providing technical and vocational education programs
Technical education programs were administered separately from other parts of the school curriculum. After 1914, they were under the administration of the Director of Technical Education. The Technical Branch was responsible for technical training in public high schools, including vocational, home economics, and agricultural programs. The branch was also responsible for liaison with the Department of Agriculture, which offered vocational training programs at its college at Olds. The Director of the Technical Branch became the Principal of the Provincial Institute of Technology and Art at the time that this institution was established in 1916. The school operated as a division of the department until its transfer to the Department of Advanced Education in 1971.

The Technical Branch was responsible for the administration of Dominion/Federal-Provincial training programs. In 1937, the branch was renamed the Canadian Vocational Training Branch. In 1959, the branch was renamed the Division of Vocational Education. In 1960, a second provincial institute of technology in Edmonton was authorized by the Minister. The first institute was renamed the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. The new institute was named the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Evening and adult education classes offered through public schools were first the responsibility of the Technical Education Branch. Correspondence programs were first offered in 1923. In 1939, the Correspondence School Branch was created to administer these programs. The branch became responsible for summer schools for pupils and summer programs for academic upgrading of certified teachers. In 1993, the Alberta Correspondence School was renamed the Alberta Distance Learning Centre.

8. Education of special needs students
Arrangements for the education of mentally and physically handicapped children were the responsibility of the Secretary of the department. For many years, these children were educated outside the province as there were no suitable facilities in Alberta. In 1956, the Alberta School for the Deaf opened, allowing for the education of deaf and hearing impaired children within the province. The design of programs for mentally and physically handicapped children was the responsibility of the Special Education Branch.

Services were provided through sending children to institutions in other provinces, direct operation of the Alberta School for the Deaf, grants to school boards for operation of special classrooms, and arrangement with private organizations for services to severely mentally handicapped children. Programs for physically and mentally handicapped students were coordinated through the Special Education Services Branch. In 1970, this branch was renamed the Pupil Personnel Services Branch. In 1971, the branch was renamed Special Educational Services.

In 1970, the department took on the function of coordinating provision of special programs for early childhood development. The Early Childhood Education Branch coordinated programs offered by a number of departments. The activities of the department related to early childhood services were approval of licenses for kindergartens and setting teaching qualifications for early childhood education service.

As well as responsibility for programs for physically and mentally handicapped students, the Special Educational Services Branch was responsible for overseeing the development of counseling and guidance programs, administration of the Learning Disabilities Fund, regulation of private schools and the regulation of summer school and extension programs offered by school boards.

In 1987, a new unit in the department was created to act as a central resource centre for all public and private special education providers in the province. The Education Response Centre incorporated the Alberta School for the Deaf and curriculum development for special needs programs.

9. Providing educational programs in languages other than English
Development of second-language curriculum had been the responsibility of the Curriculum Branch since its inception. Amendments to the School Act in 1968, which allowed for the provision of standard curriculum in languages other than English, led to the creation of the Bilingual Education unit in the Curriculum Branch. This unit oversaw the translation of standard curriculum programs into French, Ukrainian, and first nations languages.

In 1979, the Language Services Branch was created. This branch was created by separating the Bilingual Education unit from the Curriculum Branch and was done to facilitate the development of instructional programs in languages other than English. In 1982, this branch became responsible for English as a Second Language programs. In 1984, the first nations languages program was split off from the branch to create the Native Education Project. In 1987, this unit became a branch responsible for the implementation of Alberta’s Native Education Policy. The branch’s activities focused on auditing current curriculum and materials to assess their adherence to this policy and coordinating the development of aboriginal language curriculum.

10. Student testing, statistics and research in support of policy development
Student examinations were first under the administration of the Provincial Board of Examiners (who administered exams for high school matriculation) and the Registrar’s Branch (responsible for all other year-end exams). In 1945, after a department-wide reorganization, all student examinations came under the new Examinations Branch. Statistical and research support for the department was first performed by the Research Office in the Examinations Branch.

In 1958, the Research Office became a separate branch. In 1968, the branch was renamed the Testing and Research Branch. Its focus shifted to collecting data and performing research in support of policy decisions by the various units of the department and assistance to school jurisdictions in the statistical analysis of testing projects and surveys. In 1971, the branch was renamed the Operational Research and Examinations Branch. In 1972, the branch was renamed the Operational Research and Development Branch. In 1975, the branch was renamed the Student Evaluation and Data Processing Branch.

In 1974, the Planning and Research Branch was established. The branch took over the research functions of the Operational Research and Development Branch, as well as planning functions for the department as a whole. In 1983 the branch was renamed the Planning Services Branch. In 1987, this branch was renamed the Planning and Policy Secretariat, reporting directly to the Deputy Minister.

In 1982, the Student Evaluation and Data Processing Branch was split into two to create the Student Evaluation Branch, responsible for testing and evaluation activities, and the Student Records and Computer Services Branch, responsible for data processing, student and teacher records, analysis and distribution of statistics, and scoring of standardized tests. In 1994, this branch was renamed the Computer Systems Database Management Branch. In 1987, this branch was merged with the department library and records centre to form the Information Services Branch.

11. Approving, developing and distributing appropriate text and reference books
The distribution of approved text books was the responsibility of the School Libraries and Free Readers Branch. In 1925, this branch was renamed the School Books Branch. The branch operated as a self-financing non-profit enterprise that acted as a central text book purchasing agency for all school jurisdictions. The branch was also responsible for operating the bookstores at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. In 1987, the name of the branch was changed to the Learning Resources Distributing Centre.

12. Post-secondary financial assistance programs
The administration of financial assistance programs for post-secondary students was the responsibility of the Students Assistance Board. The Board administered The Students Assistance Act and acted as an advisory board to the Minister in regards to student financial support. The Board administered provincial grants programs as well as federal student loan programs in Alberta. The Board was transferred to the Department of Advanced Education in 1971.

13. Enforcing compulsory attendance
Between 1910 and 1942, the department was responsible for enforcing compulsory school attendance on all school-aged children, as per the Truancy Act and the School Attendance Act. With the repeal of the School Attendance Act in 1942, school boards became responsible for enforcement.

14. Other
Administrative support services for the department were provided by the Administration Office. In 1969, a Communications Office separate from general administration was established. The functions of the office were public relations activities and distribution of information about the department and its programs. In 1971, department support services other than communications were amalgamated into the Finance, Statistics and Legislation Branch. In 1984, the Legislation Branch was recreated. Remaining support functions became the responsibility of the Financial and Administrative Services Branch.

In 1982, a new program area was created, the Educational Exchange and Special Projects Branch. The branch was responsible for administration and coordination of exchange projects and programs. In 1987, this branch was renamed Community and International Education Branch. In 1990 it was renamed the National and International Education Branch.

A number of semi-independent agencies reported to the Minister of Education. These agencies included the Students’ Finance Board (1953-71), the Board of Post-Secondary Education (1967-69), the Universities Commission (1966-71), and the Colleges Commission (1969-71).

Names of chief officers:
Ministers of Education:
Alexander C. Rutherford 1905-1910
Charles R. Mitchell 1910-1912
John R. Boyle 1912-1918
George P. Smith 1918-1921
Perren E. Baker 1921-1935
William Aberhart 1935-1943
Solon E. Low 1943-1944
R. Earl Ansley 1944-1948
Ivan Casey 1948-1952
Anders O. Aalborg 1952-1964
Randolph H. McKinnon 1964-1967
Raymond Reierson 1967-1968
Robert C. Clark 1968-1971
Louis D. Hyndman 1971-1975
Julian G.J. Koziak 1975-1979
David T. King 1979-1986
Patrick N. Webber 1986
Nancy J. Betkowski 1986-1988
James F. Dinning 1988-1992
Halvar C. Jonson 1992-1996
Gary G. Mar 1996-1999

• planning and policy development for the education system in Alberta
• curriculum development
• development of curriculum support and teaching materials
• liaison with the Alberta Educational Communications Corporation and Alberta Educational Communications Authority
• provision of broadcasts in support of school curriculum
• inspection of schools
• consulting services to and oversight of school jurisdiction administration
• sale and distribution of approved textbooks
• administration of operating and capital grants to schools
• administration of school debenture issues
• administration of federal-provincial vocational training programs
• administration of various special funding programs
• administration of school jurisdiction boundaries
• administration of inter-departmental early childhood services programs
• student testing and evaluation
• approval of school building, purchase and renovation proposals
• administration of system-wide school building and renovation programs
• performing research on a number of issues related to education
• support for students attending schools for first nations, Mennonite, and Hutterite children
• consulting services to school jurisdictions
• provision and administration of programs to mentally and physically handicapped children
• administration of student assistance programs
• teacher education and certification
• liaison with administrators of teachers and school secretaries retirement and pension funds
• involvement with outside stakeholder agencies associated with the education system
• processing of data about students and teachers in the public education system
• communications and public relations
• evaluation and development of information management systems for the department
• financial and human resources administration for the department
• participation in inter-departmental and inter-governmental boards, councils, and committees relating to education and planning

The fonds is made up of administrative and operational records, including: correspondence; case and subject files; records of program, branch, departmental, interdepartmental, and intergovernmental committees, including minutes, agendas and reports; policy and position papers; forms; financial records in various formats; statistics and reports; school building plans; school jurisdiction maps; scripts and recordings of school broadcast programs; sample contracts; sample curriculum and teaching support materials; photographs; newspaper clippings; requests for decision; planning papers; land registers; annual reports of school jurisdictions; textbook illustrations and printing materials; film library catalogues; and press releases.