Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility criteria for preschool to Grade 12 students enrolled in Francophone schools is determined by the Alberta Education Act and Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The Conseil scolaire du Nord Ouest respects these criteria when considering the enrolment of students from preschool to Grade 12.
Eligibility
Under Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, a student is eligible to attend a francophone school (French first-language instruction) if one parent, who is a Canadian citizen, meets at least one of the following conditions.
- One parent’s first language learned and still understood is French.
- One parent received primary school education in a Francophone school* in Canada.
- One parent has a child who is receiving or has received primary or secondary education in a Francophone school* in Canada.
Exceptional Eligibility
Under the School Board’s eligibility policy, a student may be eligible for enrolment if one parent meets one of the following conditions.
- One parent, a Canadian citizen, has francophone roots and wishes to reintegrate francophone culture and identity into their child’s life; that is, one of the child’s grandparents has French as their first language learned and still understood.
- One parent is a francophone permanent or temporary resident and wishes to maintain their child’s French language proficiency, identity, and sense of francophone cultural belonging; that is, an immigrant from a country where French is a primary language and whose first language learned and still understood is French.
- A child who was enrolled in a French immersion program that is no longer offered in the community served by the Conseil scolaire du Nord-Ouest’s francophone school.
If you meet one of the above conditions, please complete the registration form and schedule an appointment with the school principal to initiate an exceptional admission request. Exceptional admission remains subject to an individual file review and approval.
Age of entry
To access an education program as prescribed by the School Act, a student must respect the following age requirements as of September 1st:
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
- Regular program – 3 years
KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM
- Regular program – 4 years and 8 months (5 years on December 31)
- Program for children with severe special needs or who are deaf – 2 years and 6 months
- Program for children with mild to moderate needs – 3 years and 6 months
- Program for a child who is eligible to be in grade 1 but who, according to the parents, the teacher, the school principal and the council, would benefit from continuing in kindergarten – 5 years and 6 months.
GRADE 1 TO 12 EDUCATION PROGRAM
- 6 years or older or under 19
