The Nova Scotia Public Schools Program

The Nova Scotia Public Schools Program outlines the goals and objectives of public education in the province, describes what students should know and be able to accomplish at various levels and describes the programs and courses which make up the provincially-approved public school curriculum. The Education Act makes school boards responsbile for ensuring that the approved provincial program of study is followed in their schools.

The Atlantic provinces have developed a common curriculum for use in all public schools in the region, which includes Mathematics, Science, English and French Language Arts, Social Studies for Primary to Grade 9 and Literacy.

In addition, there  is mandatory core curriculum which boards are required to offer in their schools by the regulations of the Education Act.

At the elementary level (Primary to Grade 6), the mandatory program of study includes Langauge Arts, Health, Science, Mathermatics, Social Studies, Physical Education, Music and Art, and Core French beginning in Grade 4. (For students served by the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial, English Language Arts begins in Grade 3.)

For Grades 7 to 9, required curriculum is English, French, Personal Development and Relationship, Science, Mathematics, Social Studies and Physical Education. In addition, students must take two of Technology Education, Family Studies or Fine Arts. 

At the senior level, Nova Scotia requires completion of 13 compulsory credit courses and five elective credits for high school graduation. Successful completion of a course for credit typically requires a minimum of 110 hours of instructional time.

Compulsory credits for high school graduation are three in English Language Arts; one in Fine Arts; two in Mathematics; two in Science; two addition credits in Mathematics, Science or Technology; one in Global Studies; one in Social Studies; 1/2 credit in Physically Active Lifestyles; and 1/2 credit in Career and Life Management.

Students with Special Needs

A generation ago, school-aged children with special needs migh have been educated in segregated insitutions or had to struggle in a public school environment, without the additional learning supports and adaptations needed to ensure their success. That's no longer the case in Nova Scotia.

In 1991, the Department of Education stated that "the issue is no longer whether students with exceptional needs should or should not be integrated, but what support is needed for integration to be successful." The principal of educating all students as part of a peer group in fully integrated schools lies at the heart of the province's Inclusion Policy.

In 1996, the department's Special Education Policy outlined the basis for developing, implementing and evaluating special education programs and services. Since then, the department has worked closely with school boards throughout the province to increase funding for special education programs, support professional development for special education and review the implementation of the Inclusion Policy.

In the schools, program support teachers and program support assistants work closely with challenged learners to ensure they have the support they need.