Calgary school boards said added provincial support for numeracy and literacy screenings will help continue to improve student success.
Demetrios Nicolaides, Alberta Minister of Education and Childcare, announced during a media availability on Sept. 9 that the province has expanded its mandatory numeracy and literacy screenings to include more elementary-aged students.
The expansion will begin in the 2026-27 school year, with the first round of testing expected in the fall. Depending on the child’s grade level, screening tests are slated to happen one to three times per school year.
Previous updates to the Education Act paved the way for these changes, including the initial screenings introduced for Grades 1 to 3 in 2022 and the subsequent addition of kindergarten students.
Only kindergarten students will take one test in the winter, while Grades 1 to 5 will take their primary test in the fall. Grades 1 to 3 will also take a winter test, with an optional spring re-screening. This is mandatory for Grades 4 to 5, as the winter test is optional instead.
Minister Nicolaides said that expanding the test to include slightly older students will further ensure that they are up to par in their math and reading skills.
“The new Grade 4 and 5 screenings are designed to be administered efficiently across whole-class groupings,” he said.
“Making it easier for schools to identify students who may need help and connect them with support before learning gaps widen.”
Nicolaides explained that the screening tests will look like short, simple activities that assess whether a student is meeting grade-level expectations. He said that schools will be required to share these results with parents.
“Parents play a critical role in supporting student success,” said Nicolaides.
“By providing timely and consistent information, this will help families work in partnership with teachers to address challenges and celebrate progress.”
Preliminary numbers show improvement, says minister
Starting next year, an annual report will be made available including the screening results. Already, Nicolaides said early data show that around 40 per cent of students who received support after their screening test did not need the same support a second time.
“This progress demonstrates the value of identification, targeted intervention, and sustained support for students who need extra help,” he said.
“When students receive help early, they are better positioned for success in school, for future learning, and in life.”
Nicolaides referred to the provincial government’s $20 million investment in numeracy and literacy education, which he said will support students identified as needing help, as well as school boards when administering the tests.
Both the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) and Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) said in separate email statements that they were made aware of the expansion, noting that similar tests have already been in place for younger students for several years.
The two school boards agreed that the changes will contribute to student success, while acknowledging that conducting the tests demands additional time, documentation, and correspondence from the boards.
A CCSD spokesperson said that instructors will work with their teachers’ assistance team to administer the tests during class time. The CBE will follow a similar protocol, adding that it is creating a guide to answer parents’ frequently asked questions related to the tests.
“Families will receive information about their child’s literacy and numeracy screening results through parent-friendly reports available within the provincial reporting system,” read the statement.
“CBE is also developing communication materials that explain the purpose of the screening, how to interpret the report and what the results may indicate about their child’s learning needs.”
