Alberta adding literacy, numeracy screening for kindergarten students, teachers’ union says testing every student is unnecessary

Alberta’s education ministry says it is expanding education screening for young students.

The province introduced twice-a-year screening for literacy and numeracy for Grade 1 to 3 students this fall, and recently introduced similar tools for kindergarten to Grade 5. Students who need more support are screened for a third time to monitor their progress.

Now, it’s adding in new screening protocols for kindergarten starting in January.

“We need to make sure students are supported as they build their foundational literacy and numeracy skills,” said Minister of Education, Demetrios Nicolaides. “Timely, impactful screening and intervention will ensure that no student falls through the cracks and will help educators and parents connect their child or student to the right supports at the right time, so they are able to reach their full potential.”

The province says consistent screening from kindergarten through Grade 5 will allow teachers to target supports to ensure student success.

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Literacy and numeracy funding will total $10 million in the 2024-25 school year, according to Nicolaides.

Resources will also be made available to teachers to help them screen and support their students.

According to the province, screeners were developed with input from school authorities, Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) award-winning academic experts, and other education stakeholders.

The screeners can be used by school authorities free of charge, or they can pick from a list of government-approved screening tools.

Specialized learning needs are also getting a financial boost — the government says it is investing $1.5 billion during the 2024-25 school year to hire more educational support staff like educational assistants, occupational therapists, counsellors, and psychologists.

Teachers’ union calls move unnecessary

The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) says it is against the move to introduce more assessments for students, calling them “unnecessary” and “time-consuming.”

It is also refuting the claim that it was involved in the development of the screening processes, saying that suggestion from the province is “wrong” and “dishonest.”

The ATA says it supported research involving a small group of students whose learning fell below their age standard as documented on initial screening tests. After weeks of individualized instruction, these students were then retested to measure improvement, according to the association.

“In contrast to this model, the province is ordering teachers to test every student twice, and some three times, without offering sufficient targeted classroom support to students most in need,” the ATA said. “None of this should come as a surprise to the government.

“The Association’s position has been clearly and directly communicated to the education minister and senior officials. They have chosen not to listen.”

The union says teachers should be given the discretion to decide when diagnostic testing can be useful, which can only be done with proper funding.