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Province announces enhanced regulations for independent schools

New regulations have been announced by the Government of Saskatchewan on independent schools. The province announced on Aug. 11 that changes have been made to the Registered Independent Schools Regulations to raise the level of accountability
Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina (benkrut-iStock Getty Images Plus - Getty Images)
Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina

New regulations have been announced by the Government of Saskatchewan on independent schools.

The province announced on Aug. 11 that changes have been made to the Registered Independent Schools Regulations to raise the level of accountability of Qualified Independent Schools. This will also allow the Government of Saskatchewan the ability to designate a supervisor to oversee the education of students when deemed necessary.

These new changes will only affect one school in Moose Jaw - the A & L Royal Education Academy.

The A & L Royal Education is a small high school that specializes in helping students reach their full potential and succeed in their chosen career paths even after they graduate; they also do a lot of work with international students. 

In addition to these new changes, the Minister of Education will be designating an administrator for three independent schools that currently have an individual employed who was named in a lawsuit by former students at Legacy Christian Academy. Legacy Christian Academy, Grace Christian School, and Regent Academy, will be subjected to unscheduled visits once per month. 

These administrators will be tasked with these schools for the entire 2022-23 school year and will be required to hold a Master of Education degree, hold a valid Professional A Teacher’s Certificate, and a minimum of two years of teaching experience. The province has also raised the amount of unscheduled supervised visits to all independent schools.

"Student safety is of the utmost importance, and we take all allegations and complaints seriously," Education Minister Dustin Duncan said. "We have taken action to ensure that all students can feel safe, protected, and respected no matter what school they attend."

The amendments that came into effect on August 11, allow the Minister of Education the ability to do the following:
•    Appoint an administrator of a school.
•    Put schools on probation.
•    Demand all Qualified Independent Schools to notify the ministry of any allegations of criminal activity or a criminal charge of a staff member within 24 hours.

If deemed necessary, the ministry also has the ability to cancel or suspend an independent school’s certification. If the certification is cancelled the school would legally no longer be able to operate.

Before these changes, all Qualified Independent Schools were observed closely by the Ministry of Education. Teachers during this time were only supervised on-site a minimum of three times a year. Teachers are now required to submit their course outlines, individual lesson plans, and yearly plans, in addition to the other changes.

The Government of Saskatchewan started funding Qualified Independent Schools that met the standards and criteria outlined in the provincial regulations.
To qualify as an independent school in Saskatchewan, you must be based in Saskatchewan, you must have a minimum of three adults from three different family units on the school board, serving as members. They also must enrol full time students between the ages of six and twenty-one from three different families, own a school facility that meets safety standards, and they must have goals consistent with the Goals of Education for Saskatchewan. 

To learn more about Independent Schools and these new changes, you can visit the Government of Saskatchewan's website at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/education-and-child-care-facility-administration/services-for-school-administrators/registered-independent-schools.

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