In support of the implementation of the business plan for education, a completely revised Policy, Regulations and Forms Manual was approved by the Minister of Education and released by Alberta Education in January, 1996. The former are binding and require a school board to develop corresponding local policy or, by board motion, adopt provincial policy as board policy. The latter provide information service for clients and clarify the department's position on a range of issues. These do not require corresponding local policy. Alberta Education began significant deregulation in 1989.
Regulatory reform is a continuing priority of government.
Alberta Education began implementing its three-year regulatory reform action plan in January 1996. Accelerated and improved decision-making and reduced costs are two of the objectives of Alberta Education's regulatory reform. The February 1997 edition of the Policy, Regulations and Forms Manual updates polices, regulations and forms reviewed and approved as of December, 1996. The Manual continues to outline the expectations of Alberta Education with regard to the delivery of and reporting on educational programs and services, and on the implementation of Alberta Education's Three-Year Business Plan . It encourages a system of shared responsibility with school boards, schools and school councils.