Children in the Northwest Territories deserve the same opportunity to learn to read as children across Canada. Right now, many provinces and territories have already introduced early reading screening and structured literacy instruction based on the Science of Reading — proven methods that help nearly all children become confident readers.

• Manitoba will introduce universal early reading screening tools for K–4 students, piloting in fall 2025 and fully rolling out in 2026.
• Alberta has mandated literacy and numeracy screening for Grades 1–3 since 2022/23, with Kindergarten added from 2024/25, along with provincial reporting.
• Ontario requires K–Grade 2 screenings and mandates 150 minutes/week of explicit literacy instruction.
• British Columbia invested $10.1 million in K–3 dyslexia screening and teacher professional development aligned with the Science of Reading.
• Prince Edward Island (PEI) has removed three-cuing from the curriculum, implemented Wilson Fundations for core instruction, and requires schools to use evidence-based structured literacy interventions.
• New Brunswick introduced a new English language arts curriculum centered on phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
• Nova Scotia has rewritten their Primary to grade 6 curriculum to align with structured literacy and are introducing universal screening this year. 
• Yukon’s First Nation School Board has led the shift to structured literacy since 2023, introducing early assessments, literacy coaches, and culturally grounded resources, earning national recognition from Dyslexia Canada for its evidence-based approach.

But in the NWT, our students are still waiting. Without early identification and proper instruction, too many children fall behind in literacy — and it doesn’t have to be this way.

We call on the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Department of Education to:

1. Mandate universal early literacy screening (Kindergarten to Grade 2).
2. Adopt evidence-based structured literacy curricula and train all educators in the Science of Reading.
3. Provide literacy coaching and support for teachers, as seen in other provinces and Yukon’s First Nation School Board.
4. Develop culturally relevant literacy materials, in collaboration with Elders and communities.

These steps are urgent, achievable, and already proven successful in other jurisdictions. Our children deserve nothing less.

Please sign this petition to urge GNWT to act now so every child in the Northwest Territories has the right start in reading — and in life.