CHANGES TO EDUCATION ACT MEET PREMIER’S COMMITMENT

Education Minister Donna Harpauer introduced legislation in the house today that amends The Education Act, 1995 to meet the Premier's commitment for the 2012-13 school year to begin after the Labour Day long weekend.

"This change will mean that students and their families can fully enjoy the last long weekend of summer, as they do in other provinces including British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario," Harpauer said.

With the changes to legislation, the earliest students will begin the school year is the first day following Labour Day and the latest day in the year students will be in school is June 30.

Boards of education will continue to set specific timelines for the opening and closing date of schools, school hours of operation and the general schedule of operation for the school year. Boards will also retain the autonomy to allow teachers to begin working earlier to prepare for the school year.

Government has begun consultations with teachers, boards of education and school divisions to develop regulations on school hours, holidays, vacations and variations in the length of the school year.

"We are listening and we are going to get input," Harpauer said. "We envision that the regulations will still allow school divisions the flexibility to set their own school year calendar in consultation with teachers, parents and the local community."

Formal presentations have been requested from the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF), the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA), the League of Education Administrators, Directors and Superintendants (LEADS) and the Saskatchewan Association of School Business Officials (SASBO).

"I would like to stress that around school hours, holidays, vacations and variations in the length of the school year nothing has been decided," Harpauer said. "We look forward to starting the conversation with teachers, schools and boards on these important topics."

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For more information, contact:

Leya Moore
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1069
Email: leya.moore@gov.sk.ca