More Supports for Math and Reading as Alberta Expands Student Screening Program

Students returning to classrooms this fall will have access to more support in math and reading as Alberta expands its provincial screening program to include Grades 4 and 5.

The provincial government announced that the expanded program will help teachers identify students who may be struggling earlier and provide targeted interventions before learning gaps become more significant.

The initiative builds on screening already in place from kindergarten to Grade 3, where early results show many students are making measurable gains after receiving additional support.

"These screeners are short, simple activities that can have a huge impact on identifying and stopping issues with math and reading before they grow into even larger issues down the road for a student, and we are already seeing impressive results for the screeners conducted last year," said Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides.

To support the expansion, the province is investing $20 million in screening and intervention programs during the 2026-27 school year, an increase of more than 60 per cent over the previous year. The new Grade 4 and 5 screeners are designed to assess entire classrooms at once, making the process more efficient for teachers and schools.

The province is also introducing new requirements this school year that will require all schools to share screening results with parents, submit screening data to Alberta Education and Childcare, and provide intervention supports to students identified as needing additional help.