Teachers association snaps back after province proposes new diagnostic testing

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on November 5, 2025.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com

The Alberta Teachers Association says its members do not need further testing to know which students require extra help in the classroom – but they do need more resources to help them.

The announcement follows a proposal by the Education Ministry on Monday to conduct reading and math diagnostic assessment testing and screening for all students from Kindergarten to Grade 3.

In 2022 the province began using proficiency assessment for students from Grade 1 and 3.

Back in January the ATA heavily criticized the province after subjecting Alberta kindergartners to the first standardized diagnostic assessment testing in Canada to evaluate student strengths, weaknesses, general knowledge and skills.

ATA president Jason Schilling called the government-imposed testing a wasteful use of classroom instructional time and invalid due to the young age of the students, undermining the effectiveness and accuracy of the test data collected.

On Monday, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides proposed amendments to the Education Act which will prioritize new reading and math screening tests and require schools boards and early childhood services to conduct the exams and share results with parents, families and the Ministry 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.” said Nicolaides.

Schilling says the testing places a great deal of unnecessary stress on students and has little to no value for student learning.

“Teachers welcome investments in early learning,” said Schilling. “But true improvement comes from trusting teachers’ expertise and ensuring schools have the resources to act on student needs.”

Schilling says results from already conducted assessment tests have not been reported publicly.

“Without support for students afterwards, these screeners are nothing more than governmental bureaucracy,” he said.

A study conducted by the ATA this year reported 73 per cent of 1,400 elementary teachers surveyed reported negative impacts on students’ emotional well-being due to high levels of anxiety and stress experienced from diagnostic testing.

“Taking what is already in policy and turning it into regulation and legislation will do nothing for students without real measures to address large class sizes and inadequate support,” said Schilling. “I am left wondering why the government is taking this step right now.”

The announcement comes on the heels of the UCP government passing a Back to School Act on Oct. 28, ordering striking teachers back to the classroom and imposing a new contract utilizing the notwithstanding clause to prevent legal challenges from teachers.

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