Alberta field tests new science, wellness and CALM 10 curricula this year
Draft curricula for Grades 7 to 9 science, physical education and wellness 10, and CALM 10 are being tested by 98 school boards ahead of mandatory rollout in 2027.
Why it matters
The changes will shape what Alberta junior high and Grade 10 students learn about money management and career planning before mandatory implementation in 2027.
The Government of Alberta has released draft curricula for Grades 7 to 9 science, physical education and wellness 10, and career and life management (CALM 10) for optional classroom field testing this school year, as part of an ongoing curriculum renewal process that began in 2019.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said the update aims to strengthen students' career and financial skills. The new CALM 10 curriculum will focus on career planning, entrepreneurship and work-related learning, along with financial skills such as saving, budgeting, banking and debt management. The physical education and wellness 10 curriculum will emphasize staying active, building positive relationships and making healthy choices, while the Grades 7 to 9 science curriculum introduces topics meant to build critical thinking and scientific literacy.
Board chairs from Red Deer Public Schools and Chinook's Edge School Division welcomed the changes, saying they will help students make informed financial decisions and transition successfully into post-secondary education and careers.
The draft curricula were developed with input from seven education partners, one First Nation education partner, two subject-area specialists, 35 stakeholder organizations and 93 teachers, and are available online through New LearnAlberta. Ninety-eight school boards are piloting the curricula this year, with mandatory implementation set for September 2027. Additional curricula for Grades 7 to 9 mathematics, career education and financial literacy, social studies, and physical education and wellness remain in development.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.