‘Support is not there for them’: teachers weigh in on new mandatory screening for young students

Most Alberta teachers who weighed in on new mandatory testing for young students said it's not helping kids get additional support.

The vast majority of Alberta teachers who weighed in on new mandatory testing for young students say it is not helping children get additional support.

In fall of 2025, the province required teachers to conduct literacy and numeracy screenings for all kindergarten to Grade 3 students.

Some parents think it’s a good plan, including Candace Belfry who has a child in a Calgary elementary school.

“I think it’s great because it puts them in a situation where they’re able to get extra help if they need it,” Belfry said.

That’s the idea, but many teachers say that is not actually happening.

“They’re just getting them tested. They get this data, hand it back to them, and no support in order to help these students thrive,” said Jason Schilling president of Alberta Teacher’s Association.

The province launched a survey to gather feedback.

Over 3,500 people responded, most of them teachers of these students.

More than 73 per cent say the testing doesn’t provide information that gets students more support.

Alberta’s education minister says they will consider the feedback.

“I think it’s important that we do it. But if there’s opportunities to tweak or fine tune the timing, the frequency, other pieces.. always happy to look at that,” said Demetrios Nicolaides.

He said that includes finding a way to inform families about the students’ results.

Most parents of elementary students CTV spoke with Thursday had no idea the testing had even happened.

“When are they going to let us know because we are unaware about it? We have no idea,” said parent Hina Sharma.

“Now that I know about it, yeah, I’m going to ask about it,” said parent Shir Pinkas.

“I know the vast majority of parents want to know where their kids are at so they can support them. If they can do some additional reading, some additional exercises at home,” said Nicolaides.

The feedback also shows teachers are concerned about the time the testing takes away from teaching and children being quizzed on skills they hadn’t yet been taught, causing some of them distress.

“They cry, they’re upset, they’re you know, it gives them a negative connotation of school. And my colleagues are concerned about the harm that that might cause students moving forward,” said Schilling.

Some parents worry too.

“It puts unnecessary pressure on young children.” Hyosung Hong who has two children in a Calgary elementary school.

Last year the ATA provided its own feedback report with results similar to those gathered by the province.

“(The screening) puts a lot of pressures on teachers and kids to get it done, gives you confusing results and then you know the students that need the supports, that support is not there for them,” said Schilling.