Prioritizing reading and math skills

Overview

The Education (Prioritizing Literacy and Numeracy) Amendment Act, 2025, amended the Education Act to prioritize literacy and numeracy and ensure the province’s youngest learners receive the help they need as early as possible.

The Education Act specifies goals for Alberta’s education system and identifies the roles and responsibilities of the ministry, school boards, charter schools, independent schools, teachers, parents and students.

Key changes

Amendments to the Education Act will require school authorities 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

By moving existing screening requirements from policy into legislation and adding a new obligation to report results to parents, the government is reinforcing its commitment to building students' foundational skills, enhancing transparency and ensuring parents are informed and engaged in their child’s learning.

Next steps

Legislated requirements apply to public, separate, francophone, charter and accredited independent school authorities and independent ECS operators.

The amendments will come into effect upon proclamation, and all legislative requirements would come into effect for the 2026/27 school year.

News

• Prioritizing math and reading skills (November 3, 2025)