Overview

Student Learning Assessments (SLAs) are digitally-based tests administered at the beginning of the school year in grade 3 to help parents and teachers identify student strengths and areas for growth.

The grade 3 SLA is available in English and French to teachers in all school authorities to use at their discretion and aims to improve student learning with a focus on literacy and numeracy.

Literacy
The ability, confidence and willingness to engage with language to acquire, construct and communicate meaning in all aspects of daily living.
Numeracy
The ability, confidence and willingness to engage with quantitative or spatial information to make informed decisions in all aspects of daily living.

SLAs contain 4 components:

  • digital interactive literacy (45 questions)
  • literacy performance task (4 activities)
  • digital interactive numeracy (39 questions)
  • numeracy performance task (2 activities)

Teachers can administer any or all of the SLA components, which are available to the end of June, 2019 – the standard school year.

For more information on SLAs, view the general information bulletin (PDF, 844 KB) or access SLAs through the SLA application.

SLA results

Student results are available within 24 hours of completing the digital questions. Results can be accessed through the teacher dashboard in the SLA application and can be printed.

Superintendents can also access a dedicated report to give an overview of school performance in their school authority.

Parents and guardians can access their child's results through their school. Interpretation of results is best accomplished through conversation between the parent/guardian, student and teacher.

SLA results are not publicly reported.

Provincial assessment programs, including SLAs, are meant to complement, not replace, day-to-day teacher observations and classroom assessment. They are sources of information that must be interpreted, used and communicated within the context of regular and continuous assessment by classroom teachers.

Educator supports

Teachers and administrators can access a number of supports as they prepare to administer the grade 3 SLA. In addition to the guides and samples below, teachers can preview all digital questions and performance tasks used in the test through the SLA application.

The Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia (ARPDC) provides supports for teachers and administrators accessing the grade 3 SLA. Supports include face-to-face or online sessions based on need and demand.

The SLA Workforce Development Help Desk is also available for technical assistance or to answer questions about how to administer SLAs.

Quick facts

Quick tip videos

Guides, samples and technical information

Sample performance tasks

English literacy – The Red Fox

Numeracy – The Zoo

Additional resources

Contact

To connect with the SLA Workforce Development Help Desk:

Phone: 780-427-5318
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: wfdhelpdesk@gov.ab.ca

To connect with Student Learning Assessments and Provincial Achievement Testing:

Nicole Lamarre, Director, Student Learning Assessments and Provincial Achievement Testing
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-6204
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Fax: 780-422-4200
Email: nicole.lamarre@gov.ab.ca

Address:

Alberta Education
6th Floor 44 Capital Boulevard
10044 108 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 5E6