B.C.’s New Reading Screenings: An Essential Guide for Parents

A New Approach to Early Reading

What if schools could spot reading difficulties before a child spent years struggling?

That’s the goal behind BC reading screenings, which help schools identify potential reading difficulties early so children can receive support sooner.

During the 2025–26 school year, B.C. introduced required reading screenings for Kindergarten students in public schools. In 2026–27, the requirement expands to students in Kindergarten through Grade 3.

The goal is simple: identify reading difficulties early so children can receive help sooner.

But what does this mean for your child?

What Is a Reading Screening?

BC reading screenings are brief assessments of the foundational skills children need to become successful readers.

Depending on your child’s grade and the tool their school uses, it may look at skills such as:

• Hearing and identifying sounds in spoken words.
• Naming letters and knowing the sounds they represent.
• Sounding out and reading words.
• Reading aloud accurately and smoothly.
• Understanding what they read.

Not every child will be screened in every skill. The screening tasks change based on grade level and the tool being used.

These checks help teachers understand how a child is developing important reading skills.

A screening is not a test your child passes or fails.

It is also not a diagnosis of dyslexia or another learning disability.

Instead, it helps teachers identify children who may need more support.

What Happens if My Child Has Difficulty?

First, don’t panic.

A screening result is one piece of information. It does not tell the whole story of your child’s learning.

But it should not be ignored.

If your child shows signs of reading difficulty, the school can use that information to decide what support may help.

This might include more focused teaching, extra practice with specific reading skills, or further assessment.

A screening result does not automatically mean your child will receive a diagnosis or a specific service.

What matters is that the school uses the information to better understand your child’s needs and plan appropriate next steps.

Screening identifies possible difficulties. Instruction and support help children make progress.

Will I Receive My Child’s Results?

Although BC reading screenings are required in public schools, the province does not require schools to include screening scores on report cards.

However, the results can help teachers explain how your child’s reading skills are developing.

You can ask your child’s teacher what was checked, what the results suggest, and whether any additional support is recommended.

You don’t need to wait for a report card to start that conversation.

Five Questions Every Parent Should Ask

If your child receives a reading screening, consider asking the school:

1. What skills were checked, and what did the results show?
2. Are there any areas where my child needs extra help?
3. What reading instruction or support will my child receive?
4. How will you check whether that support is working?
5. When can we discuss my child’s progress again?

You don’t need to know all the terms teachers use.

You just need clear answers about your child’s learning.

And if you still have concerns, it’s okay to keep asking questions.

What Can Families Do at Home?

Reading together, talking about stories, playing with sounds in words, and encouraging your child’s curiosity can help build literacy skills.

You can also ask your child’s teacher which skills to practise at home.

But remember, you are not expected to replace a trained reading teacher.

If your child needs direct instruction in reading, home activities should support, not replace, the instruction they receive at school.

Early Identification Is Only the Beginning

Throughout my career as a reading specialist, I’ve worked with children who struggled to believe they could become readers.

Some needed help connecting letters and sounds. Others had difficulty reading words accurately or understanding what they read.

I’ve also seen how much difference the right instruction and support can make.

That’s why the introduction of BC reading screenings is a promising step toward identifying reading difficulties earlier.

But screening alone doesn’t teach children to read.

What matters is how schools respond to the information they collect.

At TriPoint Autism & Literacy Education Services (TALES), we help families understand reading difficulties, explore their children’s learning needs, and identify appropriate next steps.

Through dyslexia and literacy consultation, structured literacy intervention, and educational support, we work alongside families to help children develop their reading skills and confidence.

Have questions about your child’s reading development or screening results?

Contact TriPoint to learn how we can support your family.