Superintendents advisory council endorses removing separate kindergarten readiness screener; literacy and numeracy screeners to count

The Louisiana Superintendents Advisory Council on Thursday endorsed a change to state bulletins that removes a separate kindergarten readiness screener and instead treats the literacy and numeracy screeners as the required beginning‑of‑year readiness measures.

State Superintendent Dr. Crumley told the council that the department is working to reduce testing load across K–12 and that the department had negotiated psychometric assurances that shorter screeners will still yield reliable information. “I do think that Louisiana students, take too many tests,” Dr. Crumley said, and the department plans to reduce questions and testing time for the upcoming LEAP cycle “by about 20 to 30 percent.”

The change discussed at the meeting will eliminate the separate kindergarten readiness instrument teachers have been required to administer. Miss Townsend, who presented the bulletin update to the council, said the literacy screener already in place plus a scheduled numeracy screener next year will supply the information schools need about incoming kindergartners’ academic readiness. “The literacy screener will be visible,” Townsend said, and the numeracy screener’s first official year is scheduled for 2026–27, she added.

The department and presenters said the removal aims to reduce duplication, give teachers more time to plan and respond to identified needs, and focus initial assessments on reading and math. Townsend explained that the literacy screener is tied to an established response system: if a screener flags a child as below level, schools are expected to put interventions in place and monitor progress.

Council members pressed on timing and whether academic support plans should be created immediately after the beginning‑of‑year screen or later in the year. Townsend and other staff noted the department’s intent that the beginning‑of‑year screen provide diagnostic information so teachers can plan instruction and that the individual academic support plan is designed to be modular — incorporating only the elements needed for each child.

The council voted to endorse the bulletin changes; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The department said it will distribute additional guidance and resources, hold webinars, and add information to its website and upcoming conferences so districts and parents can prepare for the change.

Implementation details that the department said it will clarify include how the numeracy screener will be administered next year, the visibility of literacy screener data to schools, and guidance about timing of individual academic support plans. The department also said it will continue conversations with early childhood partners about the operational rollout.

The council’s endorsement does not itself change statute; it affirms the department’s proposed bulletin revisions and signals systems to prepare for the revised screening approach this coming year.

Ending The department said it will publish formal bulletin language and launch training for systems; additional guidance about the numeracy screener and specific timelines will be released before next school year.