The Board of Education Academic Achievement Committee Meeting on May 12, 2025, focused on the results of the DIBELS assessment and strategies for improving early literacy among students in Prince George's County Public Schools. The meeting highlighted the ongoing administration of end-of-year DIBELS data, which is crucial for identifying students at risk for reading difficulties.

During the discussion, it was noted that there has been an average growth of approximately 3% across all four grade levels in DIBELS since the program's inception three years ago. However, the data revealed that 42% of students in grades K-3 are performing well below benchmark levels, which is 12% higher than the national average.

Specific areas of concern were identified for each grade level. For kindergarten, 61% of students scored well below the benchmark in phonemic awareness. In first grade, 45% of students struggled with letter sounds and word fluency. Second graders faced challenges in reading fluency, with 44% scoring well below the expected level. Third graders had the highest percentage of students, 56%, scoring poorly in reading comprehension.

The committee emphasized the need for targeted interventions based on these findings. Next steps will include implementing strategies to address the identified gaps in literacy skills, particularly in phonemic awareness for kindergarteners and reading comprehension for third graders. The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue monitoring progress and adjusting instructional approaches to better support student achievement in reading.