Reading, writing and math skills are important for lifelong success in and out of the classroom. This year, schools started screening students in kindergarten to Grade 3 more often to ensure no student falls behind in reading, writing and math. To help young students that need extra support, Alberta's government is providing a one-time grant of $7.5 million to ensure schools have the resources and staff needed to support students in developing these important skills.
"Basic skills like reading, writing and math are key to student success. This funding will help schools identify students that need help the most and get them the extra help they need."
Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education
The additional $7.5 million in grant funding builds on the $10 million that is being provided for reading, writing and math support for this school year. Budget 2025, if passed, also invests more than $40 million into school boards for reading, writing and math support over the next three years.
"Today's announcement solidifies Minister Nicolaides' ongoing commitment to address learning difficulties in our province. This is a strong statement of support to school divisions, teachers and researchers as they work collaboratively to ensure that our students have the resources they need to succeed."
George Georgiou, professor, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta
"Alberta School Boards Association welcomes the government's additional investment in supports and interventions for literacy and numeracy. This grant will help Alberta's locally elected school boards provide essential early learning resources to support the unique needs of our youngest learners."
Marilyn Dennis, president, Alberta School Boards Association
Quick facts
- Since 2021, Alberta's government has provided $85 million in Learning Disruption Funding to support students who need additional support in literacy and numeracy.
- In 2024, Learning Disruption Funding was renamed Literacy and Numeracy Support Funding, to help support the development of crucial early literacy and numeracy skills in Alberta's youngest learners.
- Funding will be distributed to school authorities that previously received funding in the 2024/25 school year.
- The $7.5 million may continue to be used in the 2025/26 school year to provide interventions to kindergarten to Grade 3 children and students who require additional support.
About literacy and numeracy screenings:
- All kindergarten students are screened in January.
- All students in grades 1 to 3 are screened twice a year, in September and January.
- Students in grades 1 to 3 who are identified as needing additional support in January will be screened a third time at the end of the school year to monitor their progress.
- New screening requirements will be introduced for students in grades 4 and 5 in September 2026.
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