Atascadero Unified adopts Amira as required reading‑difficulty risk screener for K–2
Loading...
Summary
The school board approved using Amira (an AI‑powered screening tool) to meet a new state requirement for reading‑difficulty risk screening in kindergarten through second grade and to support early interventions; the district will pilot the tool for one year and continue FastBridge assessments for progress monitoring.
The Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees approved the district’s adoption of Amira, an AI‑driven reading‑difficulty risk screener, to meet the new state requirement for universal screening in kindergarten through second grade.
Colleen Madsen, director of curriculum for elementary, told the board that the state’s new education code (cited in the packet as Ed. Code 53008) sets a short timeline and requires districts to select an approved screener. Madsen said the state list included only four approved vendors; district staff evaluated two and piloted products with students before a unanimous recommendation for Amira. She emphasized that the screener is not a diagnostic tool: "The screener is not a diagnosis for dyslexia," she said, and must be followed by local interventions and, when appropriate, referral to a medical professional for formal evaluation.
Administrators said Amira will be used once annually in the fall for K–2, with results communicated to families within the 45‑day timeline described by the law. FastBridge — the district’s current assessment tool — will remain in use for ongoing progress monitoring and grouping; staff described Amira as an additional tool that flags red flags earlier and links to recommended intervention lessons. The product includes teacher-facing materials, family communications and the ability to export data into the district’s EduClimber system for tracking interventions.
Board members asked about data privacy, repeat testing and how the tool distinguishes different reading subskills. Staff reported that Amira does not share student voice data with the state and that the district had negotiated logistics for classroom rollout, family notice, and how flagged students will be handled in existing intervention workflows. The board voted to approve the adoption for a one‑year implementation and review period, with staff to report back on implementation and results.
