The Manitoba government is increasing supports to ensure the province’s youngest learners have the necessary skills and confidence they need to read, by introducing universal early reading screening tools that will help identify students who may be at risk of future reading difficulties.
“Literacy is a fundamental and crucial skill, and our government is ensuring all students in Manitoba have access to the supports they need to succeed in the classroom,” said Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt. “Every Manitoba student in kindergarten to Grade 4 will be screened for early reading skills to ensure that no student falls behind in their studies. Our government understands early identification is important to support the student’s growth as a reader.”
Beginning in the fall of 2025, a significant number of school divisions will begin a pilot, noted the minister, with full implementation in all school divisions in fall 2026. All students will be screened in early fall for at least three consecutive years between kindergarten to Grade 4. A second screening will take place in the spring, which will be optional for students that meet benchmarks in the fall.
School divisions will select from standardized evidence-based screening tools to ensure the program is reliable and can predict students who may be at risk of future reading difficulties including dyslexia.
“Teachers and school staff are on the front lines of identifying challenges their students may be facing,” said Schmidt. “Our government is supporting this important work of Manitoba educators by implementing early universal screening initiatives to identify the needs of children in their classrooms. A standardized early reading screening tool will strengthen teachers’ ability to identify a student’s strengths and needs, so students have the necessary supports in place for reading and writing in the classroom and beyond.”
The 2024 speech from the throne highlighted the Manitoba government’s commitment to strengthening literacy achievements and reading outcomes for students across the province. Ensuring universal implementation of early reading screening tools is one way the Manitoba government is working to achieve this priority in addition to several other important initiatives, including the universal nutrition school screening program, smaller early years class sizes and the expansion of the Community Schools Program, said the minister.
Existing legislation already requires students who are having difficulties meeting learning outcomes to receive specialized assessments following targeted interventions as the classroom level, and communication with parents is required.
