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EDMONTON – Alberta is moving to make early reading and math screenings mandatory in all classrooms from kindergarten to Grade 3, a step the government says will help schools identify and support students with complex learning needs.
Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announced proposed amendments to the Education Act on Monday that would make literacy and numeracy screenings a legal requirement for all school boards and early childhood service operators. The change would also require schools to share results with parents and report screening data to the Education Ministry.
“Alberta’s classrooms are more complex than ever, and our teachers need the right tools to support every student,” Nicolaides said in a statement. “By identifying learning needs early, these screeners will help us address complexity head on and ensure that children with diverse and complex needs get the help they need to thrive.”
The screenings are short activities designed to measure a child’s basic reading and math skills, helping teachers flag areas where extra support may be needed before minor gaps grow into larger challenges. Alberta began requiring literacy and numeracy screening for students in grades 1 to 3 in 2022, later expanding the policy to include multiple screening periods throughout the school year.
If passed, the legislative changes would take effect in the 2026–27 school year and apply to all public, separate, francophone, charter and accredited independent schools, as well as independent early childhood operators. The screenings would continue to be administered within set three-week windows.
Michael McMann, president of the College of Alberta School Superintendents, said math and reading are “the cornerstones of every student’s learning journey” and called the move an investment in students’ long-term success.
“They are not just subjects; they are gateways to understanding, problem-solving and lifelong success,” McMann said.
Alicia Smith, executive director of Dyslexia Canada, said the legislation is an important step toward equitable literacy instruction. “When it is paired with time, training and support for teachers, it strengthens the education system’s ability to identify and respond to student needs,” she said.
The province said data from the screenings will help guide broader efforts to manage classroom complexity, alongside initiatives such as the Aggression and Complexity in Schools Action Team and funding for classroom support staff.
Budget 2025 earmarks $11 million for reading and math instruction, rising to $13 million in 2026–27 and $15 million in 2027–28. Since 2021, the government has invested $92.5 million to strengthen students’ foundational skills.
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