Calgary's public school board said on Tuesday that second language classes will no longer be mandatory for students in Grades 4 through 9, starting in the next school year.

In 2006 the Calgary Board of Education introduced a second language class requirement for Grade 4 students. Every year since then classes were added for the next grade.

Most students took French, but some schools offered other languages.

The board wanted to give students and their parents more choice, said Cathy Faber, the superintendent of learning innovation

"And I think we are unique across this province in saying that every student starting in Grade 7 will have an option to take a second language if that is their choice. But we're no longer saying you must, that's the difference," she said.

French and other languages will still be offered as an option in Grades 7 through 9, officials say.

Schools with students in Grades 4 through 6 will decide whether to offer a language, and what that might be.