Prioritizing math and reading skills

November 03, 2025 Media inquiries

Alberta’s government is introducing legislation to help schools identify and support students with complex learning needs.

Alberta’s classrooms are becoming increasingly complex, as more students join classrooms across the province with a range of learning needs, behavioral challenges and language barriers. Spotting these complex learning needs or struggles with reading and math early helps ensure every child receives the support they need to succeed.

To meet this challenge head on, Alberta’s government is proposing amendments to the Education Act that will prioritize reading and math screeners and ensure students that need extra help get the attention they need as early as possible. The amendments would require school boards and independent early childhood services (ECS) operators to:

• Conduct reading and math screenings for all students in kindergarten to Grade 3.

• Share screening results with parents to keep families informed and involved.
• Provide screening data to the department and make results available to the Ministry of Education and Childcare.

“Alberta’s classrooms are more complex than ever, and our teachers need the right tools to support every student. 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.”

Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education and Childcare