The evolution of professionalism - Centre for Policy Studies in ...

means of a resource manual. Three areas are covered in the manual: programs and
services; accountability; and information bulletins. A separate manual defi nes the
terms and conditions under which school boards and private schools may obtain
funding (Funding for School Authorities Manual, 2002).
This policy narrative is divided into four main sections. First is a short
section on the Klein Revolution, the phrase used by Ralph Klein to describe his
government’s approach to governance when he became Premier in 1992. The
second section recounts major changes in the policy environment during the
1990s. The third section discusses two policy themes – accountability and choice
– that have dominated the debate during the period under study (Taylor, Schultz
and Leard, 2005). The fourth section describes the policy events that took place
in 2002, with a look toward the future. Finally, we draw some brief conclusions.
The Klein Revolution
The Progressive Conservative Party has formed the government in Alberta
since 1971. In 1992, Ralph Klein became leader of the Progressive Conservative
Party and Premier, subsequently winning provincial elections in 1993 and 1997.
Succeeding Don Getty, Klein was well positioned to continue the work of his
predecessors and change the Alberta education system (Kachur and Harrison 1999;
Taylor, 2001). His trademark election platform, known as the Klein Revolution,
was his template from changing the face of government in the Province, and
contextualizes the educational policy narrative for Alberta. The Revolution made
it a priority to pay down the provincial debt, downsize the public service and place
greater emphasis on economic imperatives and partnerships with the private sector.
Accordingly, throughout its fi rst term, the Klein government and its Minister of
Education, Halvar Jonson, introduced a signifi cant number of documents set the
stage for changes to the education system.
The education system was and is subject to the input and critiques of a
number of associations, including: the Alberta School Board Association (ASBA),
which represents 62 School Boards 3 ; the ATA; the College of Alberta School
Superintendents; The Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association; the Alberta
Home and School Councils’ Association (AHSCA) 4 ; and the Public School Boards’
Association of Alberta (PSBAA). Some of these organizations will be referred to
later in this paper. The Alberta public system contains a wide range of schools
(secular, Catholic/separate, francophone, charter) as well as home education and
alternative education. At present, there are 64 school districts in the public school
system. Alongside the public sector is a relatively small private sector of mainly
religious schools and some elite secular institutions.
Changing the Policy Environment in the 1990s
Under the Klein administration, the Ministry of Education introduced major
policy changes. True to the government’s populist roots, its policy-making
process included numerous consultations and policy documents. Priorities for
policy development and implementation in Alberta Education were discussed in
the document Vision for the Nineties…A Plan for Action (1991). This document
32 Section 1: The West