Homeschooling in Alberta

Yes. Alberta's Education Act and Home Education Regulation allow parents to provide a home education program, and Alberta Education publishes detailed guidance on how it works.

Since 2020, families have had two routes: a supervised program run with a school authority, or an unsupervised (notification-only) program reported directly to the Minister. The supervised route is far more common because it comes with funding and teacher support.

• Supervised home education – you notify a willing public, separate or francophone school board, or an accredited funded private school. It becomes your 'associate board'. A certificated teacher evaluates progress at least twice a year, and the program is eligible for funding.
• Unsupervised (notification-only) home education – you notify the Minister each year using Alberta Education's notification form. There is no associate board, no teacher evaluation and no funding.

School authorities don't have to agree to supervise home education, even for students who live in their area, so you may need to approach a few. Many boards and private schools across the province run dedicated home education programs that serve families anywhere in Alberta.

• Choose your route (supervised or unsupervised).
• For supervised home education, pick an associate school authority and complete its notification process. For funding in a given school year, your program must be accepted by September 29.
• For an unsupervised program, complete the Ministry's notification form. You may notify at any time during the school year.

If your child moves from a regular or online program to home education after September 29, the program is not eligible for funding for that school year. Some supervising schools set their own registration cut-off earlier than September 29, so check dates with them.

Alberta lets home educators build their program around the Alberta programs of study, the schedule of learning outcomes in the Home Education Regulation, or a mix of both. You choose the resources and activities.

With a supervised program, your associate board's teacher will discuss your plan and how you will show progress toward the outcomes you have chosen.

In a supervised program, a certificated teacher from the associate school authority must conduct at least two evaluations with the parent and student each school year, assessing progress toward the program's learning outcomes. Many boards ask to see a portfolio of work at these meetings, so keep samples through the year.

Unsupervised programs have no scheduled evaluations. The Ministry can investigate if there is reason to believe a program isn't meeting the regulation.

Home education on its own doesn't award Alberta high school credits or the Alberta High School Diploma. Teens who want credits usually take courses through a school – for example in a blended program with their supervising school, through an online school, or by taking school-taught courses in later grades.

Ask your associate board early (around Grade 9) what high school course options it offers, and check post-secondary admission requirements for home-educated applicants.

Supervised home education is funded through a Home Education Student Grant paid to the associate school authority. Up to 50 per cent is to reimburse parents for instructional materials and resources. On Alberta Education's 2025/26 declaration form, the full parent portion is $901 for Grades 1–12 and $450.50 for Kindergarten (ECS).

Parents claim the parental portion with receipts through their associate board, and have up to two years to use it. Unsupervised programs receive no funding.

Alberta runs a home education Kindergarten pilot, which the government has extended to the end of the 2026/27 school year while it considers a permanent program. Children must be registered with a supervising school authority by the September count date and meet the age rules on Alberta.ca.

If your child has additional needs, talk to prospective associate boards about the supports they offer home-educated students before you choose one – supervised programs give you access to a teacher who can help with planning.

Alberta has an active home education community, including the Alberta Home Education Association and many regional support groups and co-ops.