BILL NO. 78
(as introduced)
1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
70 Elizabeth II, 2021
Private Member's Bill
Mental Health Curriculum Act
The Honourable Patricia Arab
Fairview–Clayton Park
First Reading: November 3, 2021
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
Explanatory Notes
Clause 1 provides a short title for the Act.
Clauses 2 and 3 require regional centres for education to implement
(a) PATHS education for grades primary to 6; and
(b) a course that focuses on mental health strategies and skills for grades 10 to 12.
Clauses 4 and 5 require the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial to implement
(a) PATHS education for grades primary to 6; and
(b) a course that focuses on mental health strategies and skills for grades 10 to 12.
Clause 6 requires the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development to amend the regulations to have regional centres for education and the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial implement the "Mental Health and High School Curriculum Guide".
An Act to Amend Schedule A of Chapter 1
of the Acts of 2018, the Education Act,
and Chapter 1 of the Acts of 1995-96,
the Education (CSAP) Act,
Respecting a Mental Health Curriculum
Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:
1 This Act may be cited as the Mental Health Curriculum Act.
2 Section 3 of Schedule A of Chapter 1 of the Acts of 2018, the Education Act, as amended by Chapter 3 of the Acts of 2018, is further amended by adding immediately after clause (q) the following clause:
- (qa) "PATHS Curriculum" means the Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies educational curriculum for promoting emotional and social competencies in elementary school-aged children;
3 Schedule A of Chapter 1 is further amended by adding immediately after Section 61 the following Section:
- 61A (1) A regional centre shall adopt and implement the PATHS Curriculum in its public schools for grades primary to 6.
(2) A regional centre shall implement a course with a focus on developing strategies and skills for building and maintaining mental health in its public schools for grades 10 to 12.
(3) The course required by subsection (2) must count as a credit toward high school graduation.
4 Subsection 3(1) of Chapter 1 of the Acts of 1995-96, the Education (CSAP) Act, as amended by Chapter 11 of the Acts of 2000, Chapter 16 of the Acts of 2005, Chapter 37 of the Acts of 2010, Chapter 57 of the Acts of 2011, Chapter 21 of the Acts of 2012 and Chapter 16 of the Acts of 2015, is further amended by adding immediately after clause (t) the following clause:
- (ta) "PATHS Curriculum" means the Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies educational curriculum for promoting emotional and social competencies in elementary school-aged children;
5 Chapter 1 is further amended by renumbering Section 64A as Section 64AA and adding immediately before that Section the following Section:
- 64A (1) A school board shall adopt and implement the PATHS Curriculum in its public schools for grades primary to 6.
(2) A school board shall implement a course with a focus on developing strategies and skills for building and maintaining mental health in its public schools for grades 10 to 12.
(3) The course required by subsection (2) must count as a credit toward high school graduation.
6 Upon the coming into force of this Act, the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development shall, as soon as is practicable, amend
(a) the Ministerial Education Act Regulations made under Section 97 of the Education Act; and
(b) the Ministerial Education (CSAP) Act Regulations made under Section 145 of the Education (CSAP) Act,
to require that each regional centre, as defined in the Education Act, and each school board, as defined in the Education (CSAP) Act, adopt and implement the latest edition of the "Mental Health and High School Curriculum Guide" by Stan Kutcher and Yifeng Wei in its public schools.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2021 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created November 3, 2021. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
