The province is introducing new early reading screening tools to ensure no student is left behind.
The Manitoba government announced last week that the new tools will allow teachers to identify students 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 no student falls behind in their studies. Our government understands early identification is important to support the student’s growth as a reader."
The province will pilot the new early reading screen tools in school divisions starting this fall, hoping to fully implement the program in all school divisions in 2026.
The screening will take place in early fall for at least three consecutive years between Kindergarten and Grade 4. A second screening will take place in the spring, which will be optional for students meeting benchmarks in the fall.
School divisions will select from standardized, evidence-based screening tools to ensure the program is reliable and can predict students 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. "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."