Alberta Education
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Changes based on new Alberta laws
Wed, 3 Dec, 2025
As the school year progresses, families, students and staff may notice some changes based on new laws in Alberta.
Written permission to participate in learning about human sexuality, gender identity and sexual orientation
There is a new step for families when your child’s class will be learning about human sexuality, gender identity or sexual orientation. When your child’s class will be using any resources that directly discuss human sexuality, gender identity or sexual orientation, the school will let you know and send home a form asking for your written permission for your child to participate.
If the school does not receive your written permission, your child will be given a different learning activity to do in another supervised learning space.
This change was introduced by the Government of Alberta under the Education Amendment Act, 2024.
Confirming eligibility for female-only competitive sports
For parents of student athletes who are 12 or older and want to play in a female-only competitive sport, there is a new step this year.
The Government of Alberta introduced new legislation called the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, which went into effect on September 1, 2025. This requires all Alberta schools to confirm the eligibility of female student athletes who are 12 years of age or older and wish to participate in a competitive female-only sport team.
Before your child goes to a try-out, practice or plays on a competitive, female-only sports team, you will be asked to complete a form that confirms your child’s eligibility to play.
This confirmation is only required for participation in female-only competitive school sports. It does not apply to your child’s regular physical education class, co-ed teams or other non-competitive school events like sports fun day or intramurals.
Student requests for staff to use gender identity-related new name and/or pronouns
As of September 1, 2025, if a student requests staff at their school call them by a new chosen name and/or pronouns related to their gender identity, their parents must be notified before staff can use the new name and/or pronoun. If the student is under 16, their parents will also have to provide written consent.
This change was introduced by the Government of Alberta under the Education Amendment Act, 2024.
The Education Act also requires school divisions to create welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments for all students. Our commitment to recognizing and respecting the diversity in our school communities remains the same.
New rules for library materials
In September, the Government of Alberta announced an updated Ministerial Order outlining new provincial standards for school library materials. These standards apply to the school libraries of all school Divisions in Alberta.
Under the updated Ministerial Order:
- schools must remove any materials that do not comply with provincial standards
- families must have access to library material titles in their child’s school
- the Division must have a process to support the review of library materials
The Division has until January 5, 2026 to be compliant with the Ministerial Order. Families of Division students already have access to book titles at their children’s school libraries on the Edmonton Public Schools library catalogue website.
The Division is currently working to update our processes to align with the new standards. More information about library materials will be shared when the new rules come into effect later this school year.
More information
Families can find more information in the official Government of Alberta information about the Education Amendment Act, 2024, Fairness and Safety in Sport Act and the updated Ministerial Order on Standards for the Selection, Availability, and Access of School Library Materials.
