SASKATOON, Sask. — Education Minister Everett Hindley is defending the provincial government’s decision to increase its funding for Roadways Literacy Academy, which would further strengthen their partnership by supporting literacy programming. He made his comments during the announcement on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Roadways' facility.
Roadways is a private school that specializes in students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia (a person’s ability to read), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, dysgraphia (which impairs a person's ability to organize thoughts on paper), and dyscalculia (a disorder that makes it hard to perform calculations).
Roadways has operated for about a decade but is receiving a new designation allowing it to operate as an alternative independent school. Hindley said the new funding model will increase operational support and provide additional funding for intensive literacy programming over the next three years.
The alternative and independent learning institution was founded 12 years ago as a specialized private school and tutoring studio for students in grades 1 to 10. The partnership means the government, through the Education Ministry, will provide $403,000 to Roadways for the 2026-2027 school year.
Through a new service agreement between the parties, the funding will support literacy programming and intensive services for students with specific learning disabilities. This also represents a $175,000 increase over previous funding levels.
Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, Roadways Literacy Academy will operate as an alternative independent school and receive $403,000 in funding through a service agreement with the Ministry of Education. This represents an increase of $175,000 over previous funding levels.
The announcement comes as concerns continue about staffing levels in Saskatchewan schools, including shortages of teachers and educational assistants, and cramped classrooms. Hindley, when asked why an independent institution received the funding rather than the public system, said the decision was made because the investment is intended to strengthen students’ literacy supports.
“We make investments right across the education system,” Hindley said, adding that the government invests across the education sector and that families and students have a choice between public, separate, independent, distance learning and French-language education.
Hindley pointed to provincial investments in school capital projects, renovations and operating funding for school divisions, citing the government’s renewed focus on literacy, and said Roadways represents a programme that has demonstrated positive results, and the learning institution is one example of an organization whose work with the government believes can complement the broader education system.
He said Roadways partners with the public education system by providing additional literacy supports to students who may come from public schools. The goal, he said, is for students to improve their literacy skills and eventually return to their regular classrooms.
Hindley also rejected the suggestion that the government is overlooking literacy in the public system. He said the province invested $2 million over the previous two budget years specifically toward kindergarten-to-Grade 3 literacy initiatives and has introduced provincial reading screeners for students in those grades.
Those investments, he said, are part of a broader approach that includes direct funding to public school divisions and professional development through an agreement with the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation.
Hindley, when asked how the government can support additional literacy programming while schools face shortages of teachers and educational assistants, argued against the characterization that the education system has been cut back.
“The government of Saskatchewan has made very significant investments into education,” Hindley said, pointing to a 20 per cent increase in operating funding to school divisions over three years and added that more teachers and educational assistants are working in Saskatchewan than in previous years.
Hindley acknowledged there is still room for improvement, particularly around recruitment and retention. He said the government has been discussing those challenges with educational assistant unions, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, local teaching associations and school boards.
“There’s an opportunity for us to do more. Sometimes money isn’t necessarily the answer,” said Hindley, adding that the government will continue working with education partners, families and students to identify remaining challenges and determine where additional support is needed.
