Literacy

Actions to Improve Early Literacy (AIEL) in Saskatchewan

Actions to Improve Early Literacy (AIEL) in Saskatchewan Family Fact Sheet

Parents and Caregivers:
As part of the Provincial Education Plan, the Ministry of Education is working with teachers and education partners to develop a common approach to reading instruction. This approach includes:

• implementing provincially approved reading screeners;
• renewing the Grades 1 to 3 English language arts and Kindergarten curricula;
• reviewing the French Immersion and Fransaskois curricula; and,
• building teacher expertise in structured literacy.

Why is this being implemented?
One in three Grade 3 students in Saskatchewan are reading below grade level.

Focusing on Kindergarten to Grade 3 reading was a priority in the 2024 Throne Speech, noting a “child’s ability to read at grade level by Grade 3 is the single greatest predictor of future academic success, because this is when students transition from learning to read to reading to learn.”

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission released a report that emphasized the need for screening students to identify reading difficulties and building teacher expertise in reading instruction.

What does this mean for my child?
Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, schools will transition to using a reading screener to assess all students’ reading skills in Kindergarten to Grade 3. A screener is a quick assessment that helps teachers identify whether students are experiencing reading difficulties. Teachers are then better positioned to provide students with the help they need to become confident and skilled readers.

Do other provinces use reading screeners?
Several other provinces are moving toward using screeners as part of a structured approach to reading instruction.

Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia all use reading screeners.

How often will my child be screened?
All students in Kindergarten to Grade 3 in publicly funded schools will be screened.

Will I get the results from my child’s reading assessment?
Schools will share students’ reading screener results with parents in a timely manner.

Actions to Improve Early Literacy (AIEL) Frequently Asked Questions