The Alberta government is putting $7.5 million toward additional help for some students who may be falling behind with reading, writing and math skills.
The one-time grant funding will be dedicated to helping children in Kindergarten to Grade 3, who began undergoing extra literacy and numeracy assessments early this year.
The new enhanced screening was announced in July, making Alberta the first province in Canada to mandate early screening and intervention.
Kindergarten to Grade 3 kids are now screened in September and January, with a third screening at the end of the year for kids who are identified as needing extra support in literacy and numeracy.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) has called the value of the extra testing “minimal.”
- Expanded standardized testing for Alberta elementary students earns a failing grade from teachers
- ATA warns standardized testing will cause ‘stress and anxiety’ for kindergarteners
It has said the new system could triple the number of tests being taken by elementary students, causing stress in young students and taking away from teaching time.
ATA president Jason Schilling said in a statement on Thursday that the investment is “much-needed” and welcome.
He said teachers are already able to identify students who need extra support, and he hopes they are involved in making decisions to where funding goes.
“We know that proper direction is needed for this money to have a lasting impact, and teachers can provide that direction,” Schilling said.
“The ATA would appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with the ministry on disbursing these funds and bringing teachers’ practical insight to the table.”
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides has defended the assessments, saying they are low-intensity and needed to increase early intervention for students in need of extra support.
The $7.5 million in grant funding will be given to schools who received literacy and numeracy funding last year.
The province will introduce additional screening requirements for Grade 4 and Grade 5 students in September 2026.
