The Atlantic Provinces Education Foundation

The Atlantic Provinces Education-Foundation (APEF) is a regional agency of the Council of Maritime Premiers. The Foundation was established to provide a framework for joint undertakings in the development of entry-to-twelve public education for the Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island education departments. The Foundation operated as the Maritime Provinces Education Foundation until 1982 when Newfoundland and Labrador became full partners and the agency became APEF. The Foundation is involved in education projects that include curriculum development, education assessment and the compilation of Atlantic Education Performance Indicators.

The development of a common core curriculum was endorsed by the Atlantic Canadian premiers in 1994, ''as a way to improve the quality, relevance and effectiveness of curriculum in each province by combining expertise and input." ⁸ Curriculum apart from the core program continues to be developed provincially. Common core curriculum development includes Arts Education, English Language Arts (entry-12), French Immersion (1-12), Core French (1-12), Technology Education, Mathematics (entry-l 2), Science (entry-12), Science (11-12 Physics, Chemistry, and Biology), and Social Studies.

When core curriculum development was endorsed by the Atlantic Canadian premiers, common assessment strategies were also needed so that curriculum outcomes could be assessed and the programs evaluated. ⁹

The Atlantic Education Indicators project, an ongoing program, measures and reports on regional education indicators. As defined by APEF, indicators are items of information collected at regular intervals that track the effectiveness and efficiency of an education system. Their purpose is to aid APEF in planning and developing their joint initiatives. Education Indicators for Atlantic Canada is a public information report published in 1996. It was the first report of its kind to be published in Canada.¹⁰

APEF also produces publications that include curriculum guides, curriculum related materials, professional development materials, research and reports, and testing resources. Copies of publications can be obtained through the Department of Education of any Atlantic province.