The ATA News , November 18, 2025 ❚ 7
New bill proposes to legally require K–3 testing
Bill 6 garners some support, raises questions Supporters of the legislation emphasize the importance of promoting strong literacy and numeracy skills at an early age. Some comments, however, suggest that assessment alone is not sufficient to ensure students are well supported. “Early screening is an essential part of an equitable approach to literacy instruction,” said Alicia Smith, executive director of Dyslexia Canada. “When it is paired with time, training and support for teachers, it strengthens the education system’s ability to identify and respond to student needs, ensuring that children who require extra help learning to read receive it.” Critics question the need to legislate K–3 assessments, expressing concerns about the impact of standardized testing on student well-being and teacher workload. ATA president Jason Schilling argued that these tests add bureaucratic measures without addressing the core issues of overcrowded classrooms and underfunded supports for struggling students. “Teachers don’t need another test to tell us which children need help. We need the resources to help them,” he said. Schilling also referenced research conducted by the ATA, which shows that a strong majority of Alberta elementary teachers and school leaders believe the assessments are developmentally inappropriate, are harming elementary students and have low value for student learning. “The ATA recognizes the government’s priority on literacy and numeracy but stresses that lasting improvement will only be achieved when the government actively engages with and listens to teachers and draws on their expertise to shape the supports students need to succeed,” said Schilling. Should Bill 6 be passed, the legal requirement for K–3 screeners would come into effect for the 2026/27 school year.
Lindsay Yakimyshyn ATA News Managing Editor S tandardized assessments for kindergarten to Grade 3 students in Alberta could soon be mandated by law. Introduced by the provincial government on November 3, Bill 6, the Education (Prioritizing Literacy and Numeracy) Amendment Act , would amend the Education Act to legally require standardized tests in literacy and numeracy for kindergarten to Grade 3. This requirement would apply to all public, separate, francophone, charter and accredited independent school authorities, as well as independent early childhood services operators. A statement from the government asserted that the assessments would help identify complex learning needs, with priority placed on reading and math to ensure students receive appropriate supports early on. “Alberta’s classrooms are more complex than ever, and our teachers need the right tools to support every student,” said Demetrios Nicolaides, minister of Education and Childcare. “By identifying learning needs early, these screeners will help us address complexity head on and ensure that children with diverse and complex needs get the help they need to thrive.” Currently, K–3 literacy and math screeners are required by policy. If passed, Bill 6 would enshrine these assessments in law. The bill also sets out a requirement for school authorities to share the testing results with both parents and the Ministry of Education and Childcare. Further, the ministry would be required to publish an annual report on the assessment data and could request individual student results from school authorities. While specific details regarding implementation are not included in the bill itself, the government stated that the assessments would be administered under the current schedule: fall and winter screenings for Grades 1–3 (with an additional spring screening for students requiring extra support) and a winter screening for kindergarten students.
Back to work, but not backing down
My parents taught me something simple and true: when you get knocked down, you get back up. They reminded me of this all the time, which might have annoyed me as a kid, but now I’m deeply grateful for the lesson. I can still hear my mother’s voice from the stands during a hockey game yelling, “This is no Sunday skate, Schilling— get moving!” She taught me what I have always seen Alberta’s teachers do—show up for your teammates, work hard and never quit, even if you are bruised and exhausted. On October 27, Alberta’s teachers were dealt a hard, unfair blow. Being ordered back to work under the weight of the government’s use of the notwithstanding clause has left many feeling disappointed, hurt and deeply demoralized. I feel it too. But when we get knocked down, we get back up. That’s who we are. Like so many of you, I became a teacher because I believe in people—in fairness, respect and the power of education to lift entire communities. To have our collective voice silenced by legislation is not only an affront to teachers, but also an affront to all workers and to democracy itself. Watching our Association (and me) be dragged through the mud in recent days has been difficult, but no personal
attack or political tactic can erase what teachers stand for. Now more than ever, we must resist tearing each other down, especially on social media. Every time we do, we give our opponents exactly what they want and weaken the solidarity that carried us through the strike. Let’s be clear: we will not give up— not now, not ever.We will not give away our power. Remaining silent would be the easiest path, and exactly what the government wants, but silence has never been the way of teachers. We speak up.We stand together.And when it feels impossible to keep standing, we must lift each other up. The government may have forced us back to work, but they cannot legislate away our resolve. The public sees what’s happening. Parents, communities and students have reached out in overwhelming support because they know the value of Alberta’s teachers and the importance of a strong public education system. We see this support reflected in polls, petitions and conversations.The public has not wavered in its support. We’ve been knocked down, but we’re getting back up. Together, we’ll keep moving forward with purpose and conviction, fighting for our classrooms, our students and the future generations who depend on us to stand firm for what’s right.
Education issues debated
Kim Clement ATA News Staff A lberta’s 31st legislature resumed on October 23 with a speech from the throne. The sitting is scheduled to run until November 27. Here is a summary of the education-related discussions that took place in question period from October 28 to November 3. October 28, 2025: Bill 2 and Notwithstanding Clause Naheed Nenshi (NDP, Calgary-Buffalo) questioned why the government invoked the notwithstanding clause instead of allowing courts to review back-to-work legislation while students returned. He argued it was a pre-emptive and unprecedented decision. Minister of Finance Nate Horner said the longest education strike in Canadian history required balancing teachers’rights to strike with students’ right to education. He argued certainty was needed given Alberta’s two-tier bargaining structure and said the clause was used deliberately and within constitutional authority. Nenshi asked why the government abandoned its own rhetoric about inalienable rights and respect for the Supreme Court. Horner said section 33 is part
of the Constitution and the situation was unique due to local and central bargaining dynamics. Nenshi asked whether the government would commit to never pre-emptively using the clause again. Horner replied he finds it difficult to imagine its use in other public-sector bargaining situations but would not forfeit the tool. October 29, 2025: Collective Bargaining with Teachers Nenshi said that parents, teachers and students returned to school with mixed emotions and argued the disruption was avoidable. He accused the government of ignoring class-size issues and failing to use available labour-relations tools to prevent the strike. He asked why the government refused early intervention mechanisms such as a dispute inquiry board. Minister of Education and Childcare Demetrios Nicolaides said families were pleased students returned to school and emphasized that children belong in classrooms for academic and emotional well-being. Horner defended the government’s actions, saying options were considered
ALBERTA STUDENTS more than numbers An Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) provincial research study reports on how the Alberta Government's mandated literacy and numeracy screeners are affecting elementary students.
Research based on feedback from over 1,400 Alberta elementary teachers and school leaders.
TEACHERS 3 in 4 Are Concerned
71% Developmentally Inappropriate
Harming Elementary Students
Low Value for Student Learning
of teachers report a negative impact on students' emotional well-being with high levels of anxiety due to this mandatory testing. 73%
of teachers say that repeating these tests throughout the year has NO VALUE at all. 75%
of teachers believe the mandatory literacy and numeracy screeners are developmentally inappropriate for their elementary students.
LEGISLATURE HIGHLIGHTS continued on page 9
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