Golden State Today

California's State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond, has communicated to local educational agencies the availability of four approved tools for screening reading difficulties in students from kindergarten through second grade. This initiative aims to support early literacy and ensure students can read proficiently by third grade.

The selection process was conducted by the Reading Difficulties Risk Screener Selection Panel (RDRSSP), formed under SB 114, signed into law by Governor Newsom on July 10, 2023. The chosen instruments are available on the California Department of Education's website and were evaluated based on criteria set by the State Board of Education. These criteria included validity, reliability, and whether the tools were normed with a representative sample of California’s student population. Additionally, the availability of these instruments in multiple languages was considered.

Thurmond emphasized the importance of reading as a fundamental skill: “The ability to read is a critical gateway to a healthy, successful life,” he stated. He acknowledged contributions from CDE staff and other partners in this initiative, including Dr. Bonnie Garcia, Nancy Brynelson, Dr. Mike Torres, WestEd colleagues, and screening panel members.

The approved tools include Amira from Amira Learning and mCLASS with DIBELS Edition 8 from Amplify Education; both serve K-2 students in English and Spanish. The Rapid Online Assessment of Reading (ROAR) from Stanford University is for grades 1-2 in English only. Multitudes from UCSF Dyslexia Center serves K-2 students in English and Spanish.

This initiative complements ongoing efforts led by Thurmond and Governor Newsom to improve literacy across California through programs like Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists grants and a cohort focused on enhancing test scores statewide.

For more information about the RDRSSP process or screening tools, visit the CDE RDRSSP webpage. Media inquiries can be directed to communications@cde.ca.gov.