Alberta Legislature (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Province partners with U of A professor on literary program to address COVID-19 learning loss

Mar 12, 2021 | 10:31 AM

EDMONTON, AB – The province is teaming with a University of Alberta professor on a new voluntary program that focuses on reading deficits among early learners in Alberta.

The program, being supported by George Georgiou at the U of A, will be for kindergarten to grade 3 students and help measure how classroom disruptions caused by COVID-19 are affecting student learning.

“We know COVID-19 is having an impact on student learning,” said Education Minister Adriana LaGrange.

“The first step is to find out what the impacts are. These assessments will help us understand how to better support student success in the classroom during these crucial early years, and address learning gaps that were created from the pandemic.”

The provincial government will work with school authorities that volunteer to run the program. Results of the program will be shared with school authorities.

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Classrooms taking part will be given a short training video to help teachers prepare, as well as access to additional staffing to support administering the test.

“Assessment provides the critical information teachers need to intervene. I’m thrilled to see these tools rolling out in Alberta to ensure student success,” George Georgiou said.

Alberta Education is partnering with the College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS) to engage superintendents to better understand current assessment practices employed by school authorities.

The government says this work will help inform long-term planning related to student assessments.

The approximate cost of the program is roughly $100,000.

The results of the assessments will be able to help school authorities to allocate the necessary resources to address the concerns. Participation will be on a voluntary basis.