Risk of Reading Difficulties Screener
Since the start of the 2025-2026 school year, all California schools have been screening students in kindergarten through second grade to check for early signs of reading difficulties. This is being done in accordance with Education Code 53008.
On April 10, 2025, our School Board of Education approved the use of mCLASS DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) 8th Edition and mCLASS Lectura for our Spanish-speaking students, as the official tools for this screening.
Our main goal is simple: to find any potential reading challenges early on so we can offer the right help at the right time. Research consistently shows that early identification and intervention using evidence-based literacy strategies and materials significantly improve outcomes for students at risk of reading difficulties, including possible neurological disorders, such as dyslexia. By screening all our young students, we ensure families and teachers have the information they need to provide the best support, helping every student achieve success in reading and in life.
Please note that more information regarding the screening process and student support is coming soon.
Reading Screener: Amplify mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition and mCLASS Lectura
Amplify mCLASS DIBELS and mCLASS Lectura are special tools we use to check how well our young students (in Kindergarten through second grade) are learning important early reading skills.
- DIBELS 8th Edition (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) is the name of the English reading screener.
- Lectura is the name of the Spanish reading screener.
Both DIBELS and Lectura use standardized sets of measures that help us find students who might need extra help or support to become successful readers.
Resources
California Department of Education - Screening for Risk of Reading Difficulties FAQs
The mCLASS Home Connect website
NOTE: The mCLASS Home Connect website houses literacy resources for families, including at-home lessons organized by skill to support students learning to read at home.
What is the process for the Risk of Reading Difficulties Screener?
When: Students will be screened January-February every school year. If your student is enrolled after March 1 they will be screened within 45 days of their first day of attendance.
Who: Students in K-2
What: Screening evaluates early literacy skills, including: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, and Comprehension. (More detailed information is provided in the next sections)
How: Teachers will use DIBELS to assess students.
Results: Families will receive the results from the Reading Screener via Parent Square beginning February 13, 2026. Results will be shared within 45 days of screening.
What skills are measured by mCLASS DIBELS?
mCLASS DIBELS measures the basic building blocks of reading that your student is learning. It looks at how well your student can:
- Name letters (Letter Naming Fluency): Say the names of letters when they see them.
- Hear sounds in words (Phonemic Awareness): Recognize and work with the sounds in spoken words. This is about hearing that "cat" has three separate sounds: /c/, /a/, /t/.
- Match sounds to letters (Decoding): Connect the sounds they hear with the actual letters that make those sounds.
- Read smoothly (Accuracy and Fluency): Reading words in stories easily, quickly, and correctly.
- Understand what they read (Comprehension): Read a text and grasp the meaning of what they've read.
The specific activities your student does is determined by their grade level.