Grade 2 and 3 students in Alberta assessed to determine pandemic learning gaps
CBC
Literacy and numeracy assessments of Grade 2 and 3 students are underway at schools across Alberta in order to identify what kind of learning gaps have been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last spring, the province announced up to $45 million in funding for targeted supports for Grades 1-3 students who may require extra help after pandemic-impacted learning.
Helmut Kaiser, with the Calgary Catholic School District, says provincewide assessments are starting with Grades 2 and 3.
"The literacy assessments really look at those foundational literacy skills that students need to be able to read. So these assessments allow us to gauge where the students' word recognition and phonemic awareness is as they're getting ready to read," he said.
"The same holds true for the numeracy assessment. It looks at foundational math skills — you know, adding, subtracting ordering numbers."
Although assessment results aren't ready, the CBE's Joanne Pitman says teachers have reported that learning gaps among this age group are evident.
"What we do know is that there is definitely an increase in the level of needs at the start of the school year related to foundational literacy and numeracy," said Pitman, the board's superintendent of school improvement.