Private (Independent) Schools

Private schools, also known as independent schools, operate independently of the public school system. They generally have smaller student to teacher ratios, they may teach religious studies, and they usually place emphasis on physical activity, art, and music in addition to regular academic studies. Students must apply for admittance to a private school and those accepted generally pay an annual tuition fee. Private schools were the first schools to operate in Canada and have become one of the leading forms of alternative education. They fall into two main categories, those that are traditional-religious and those that are progressive-humanistic.²³ In North America, there are private schools for Islamic, Mennonite and Amish, Protestant, Quaker, and Roman Catholic religions as well as for First Nations students. Progressive-humanistic private schools are founded upon secular educational philosophies. Two of the more popular progressive-humanistic types are Montessori and Waldorf. The more established private schools of Canada belong to The Canadian Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). There are currently five CAIS schools in the Atlantic Provinces. CAIS private schools are non-profit institutions.

Accountability and Structure

All private schools in Canada must be approved by their provincial Minister of Education and must have a curriculum that will meet all goals listed in the provincial Education Act. Just as public schools often have a school board or an advisory council, private schools generally have a Board of Governors or a similar committee who are at arms length from the daily operation of the school. Daily administration and operation of a private school is overseen by a school head who may be referred to as a headmistress, headmaster, or school director. The head of a private school has much the same function as a principal in a public school.

Funding and Costs

Funding for private school is provided primarily through student tuition and fundraising. In Prince Edward Island the provincial government gives a small percentage from the annual budget to financially assist private schools in the province. There is no government financial support given to private schools in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. In the late 1900s annual day tuition for CAIS private schools in Atlantic Provinces ranged from approximately $5000 to $7,500 per student. Many of these schools offer bursaries or tuition relief to students whose parents are unable to afford the full cost of private school education.²⁴