New funding to help Grade 1 students with literacy and math is a beacon of hope for young learners, said one school board chair in St. Albert.
On Feb. 14, the provincial government has announced it will be doubling its 2022-23 funding commitment to combat learning gaps for young students, with a particular focus on foundational learning in literacy and math for Grade 1 students.
Joe Becigneul, chair of Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools, said local schools have been under pressure since the pandemic started.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to our education system, and the announcement of funding to support Grade 1 learners is a beacon of hope,” Becigneul said.
The new funding will help in students’ learning and development and help provide resources to mitigate the effects of learning loss, the chair said.
“We're just happy that they've recognized the learning gaps warranted additional dollars to assist the kids as we get them back on stream and get them to where they need to be,” Becigneul said.
Kim Armstrong, chair of St. Albert Public Schools, said the board is still determining the needs of the district and will decide how best to allocate the new funding over the next few weeks.
In 2021-22, the government provided $45 million to provide extra supports to students in grades 1 to 3. The government reported that as a result, 70,000 students regained an average of almost seven months of literacy and numeracy development. Data also indicated that approximately 20 per cent of students required further intervention to catch up.
“The early years of education are critical to long-term learning success. Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring all Grade 1 students in Alberta develop the foundational skills they need to succeed in later grades,” Alberta’s Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange said in a statement.
The government will provide an additional $10 million this year to help Grade 1 students who need help catching up to grade level in the areas of foundational math and literacy.
Beginning in September 2022, school authorities are required to administer literacy and numeracy screening assessments for all students in Grades 1 to 3. Students in Grades 2 and 3 were assessed earlier this school year, and Grade 1 students were assessed by the end of January 2023.
The UCP reported that ongoing research and feedback from school authorities, teachers and parents indicates students in Grade 1 are experiencing challenges in their reading and math skills and were affected by learning disruptions while in kindergarten or preschool. For many of the students, Grade 1 is their first year learning in a school setting.
While the funds are to be allocated toward foundational learning for Grade 1 students, school authorities will have the final say on how the funds are used, based on their students’ needs — from hiring additional teachers and educational assistants, providing more training to their staff, or purchasing resources like books and access to online resources.
