FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January, 10th, 2025 Toronto, ON—Dyslexia Canada commends Alberta for expanding its universal screening program into Kindergarten. This move reflects a progressive, equity-centred approach to education that is aligned with strong scientific evidence.
Screening is a fast and reliable way to identify children who are at risk of falling behind their classmates in learning to read. It takes only 5 to 10 minutes per child and consists of a series of short activities conducted one-on-one with an educator. For example, a teacher might ask a child to name as many letters as they can in one minute, or say the sounds they hear in words, like ‘ssss’ ‘uuu’ ‘nnn’ in ‘sun.’ These simple screening tasks have been thoroughly researched over decades and found to be far more accurate in predicting reading readiness than previous assessment methods or observation alone.
Dr. Una Malcolm, Chief Academic Officer of Dyslexia Canada, emphasized the importance of early screening. “Screening in Kindergarten is a key component of an evidence-based approach to preventing reading failure. It allows us to address gaps in literacy development before they widen and ensures that every child has the opportunity to thrive. Alberta’s decision demonstrates a commitment to equitable, evidence-based education that benefits all students.”
It is important to note that screening does not diagnose a child with a learning disability, nor should screening data be used to determine report card grades; rather, screening provides valuable information to guide classroom instruction and intervention. Screening 2 to 3 times per year allows educators to get rich sources of data to monitor student progress and adjust instruction to respond to changing needs.
Screening is important for all children but is especially important for those at risk for dyslexia, the most common cause of reading difficulties affecting between 10% and 20% of all children. While teachers’ own observations may identify some children who are struggling, reading trajectories can be subtle in the early years, and screening ensures no child at risk is overlooked. When skill gaps are caught early, they can be addressed far more effectively and efficiently than when children are older and have fallen behind. Approximately 11,000 children with dyslexia start kindergarten in Alberta every year; by introducing universal screening, these students will get off to a strong start with literacy and avoid the devastating and long-lasting impacts of early reading difficulties on academic outcomes, self-esteem and mental health.
Alberta has been a national leader in shifting to a preventative approach by updating the Language Curriculum to align with scientifically evidence-based practices and implementing universal screening for students in Grades 1 to 3. These moves align with the recommendations of the Ontario and Saskatchewan Human Rights Commissions, both of which have examined their province's policies and practices and concluded that major changes are needed to ensure that schools are meeting their human rights obligations to students. When schools fail to adopt evidence-based approaches, many families are forced to pay for private assessments and tutoring to address literacy challenges. Dr. Malcolm added, “This is not just an educational reform; it’s an equity initiative. By implementing universal screening, Alberta is helping to level the playing field, giving every child a fair chance to succeed.”
While Dyslexia Canada is encouraged by Alberta’s move to expand the screening program, we also caution that large-scale changes in practice, such as this, require ongoing collaboration and support to ensure success. We strongly urge the government to ensure educators are provided with the training and release time to conduct screening. The purpose of screening is to inform instruction; teachers need ongoing coaching and protected time to collaborate with colleagues to ensure that they can use the screening data effectively to improve student outcomes.
Dyslexia Canada calls on other provinces to follow Alberta’s lead in recognizing the value of early screening and taking action to end the cycle of reading failure. With timely intervention and proper support, we can help ensure that all children achieve their full potential in literacy and beyond.
Media Contact: Una Malcolm
Chief Academic Officer
Dyslexia Canada
Email: una@dyslexiacanada.org
About Dyslexia Canada
Dyslexia Canada is a national charity committed to ensuring that every child in Canada with dyslexia gets a fair and equitable education. Dyslexia Canada was formed in 2016 to ensure that there was a national voice and forum to advocate for all Canadian children with dyslexia. By partnering with professional organizations, experts and advocates, Dyslexia Canada strives to drive systemic change by engaging and educating the public and establishing legislation specific to recognizing and remediating dyslexia.