British Columbia Literacy Screener Project

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British Columbia Literacy Screening Project

The British Columbia Literacy Screening Project is part of a province-wide, multi-year initiative supporting the implementation of evidence-based early literacy screening for students in Kindergarten through Grade 3.

The development of the English screener is being led by Canada Excellence Research Chair in Developmental Science Sara Hart and the Hart Lab at the University of Waterloo. The project is a collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Child Care, school districts, educators, developers, and literacy partners (including Indigenous partners) to better understand how early literacy screening can improve outcomes for children across British Columbia.

Why Literacy Screening?

In April 2024, the Government of British Columbia committed $30 million over three years to advance literacy outcomes for all children, including those with learning differences such as dyslexia. A key component of this investment is the implementation of evidence-based early literacy screening for all students from Kindergarten through Grade 3.

Through this work, British Columbia is establishing a standardized, province-wide approach to literacy screening, including the development of consistent screening criteria and a made-for-British Columbia screening tool designed specifically for BC schools to support equitable, evidence-based literacy outcomes.

The Goals of the Project

The British Columbia Literacy Screening Project (English) is designed to generate rigorous evidence about the implementation, effectiveness, and long-term impact of early literacy screening across British Columbia.

Through the development and implementation of the screener, the project seeks to:

Understand how literacy screening is implemented across diverse school contexts;
Examine how early identification supports student success;
Strengthen equitable access to literacy supports and intervention; and
Inform future literacy policy and educational practice.

Grounded in developmental science and evidence-informed practice, the project bridges policy and practice to support improved literacy trajectories for children across British Columbia.