New education legislation would make provincially mandated screening tests in literacy and numeracy classified as law — a new move for provincial government assessments.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says the early years screening tests help teachers identify students who struggles early on.
“Teachers can then give targeted support before the problem becomes bigger,” Nicolaides said at a news conference. “This means small issues don’t turn into big ones, and students can get the help when they need it most in those early formative years.”
Bill 6, the Education (Prioritizing Literacy and Numeracy) Amendment Act 2025, No. 2, would legally mandate public, Catholic, francophone, charter and independent schools to perform screening tests every year to all students in kindergarten to Grade 3. The province intends to include testing to Grade 4 and Grade 5 students next school year.
Government officials said other established standardized tests in the province, like diploma exams and provincial achievement tests, are required by provincial policy, but not written into law.
If it goes through, Bill 6 would also mandate schools and school divisions to report screening test results to parents, and to the education minister. The screening takes place at the beginning of the school year, or midyear, or at both times, depending on the grade and the student.
The text of Bill 6 says the minister may request personal information about the students being screened from school boards.
Nicolaides said that measure is to ensure students identified as struggling are receiving targeted help from school staff.
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