San Rafael schools approve Multitudes dyslexia screener trial, plan K–2 rollout and parent outreach

On Feb. 10 the San Rafael City School District Board of Trustees approved a staff recommendation to adopt the Multitudes dyslexia screener and to pilot it this spring ahead of a required K–2 screening next school year.

The action responds to state law that requires districts to select an approved dyslexia screener and to screen students early in the school year. A staff member presenting the proposal said the district would trial Multitudes this spring in selected classrooms, use a per‑pupil state allocation to pay assessors, and begin full screenings in September with completion by mid‑November as required by state timelines.

Why it matters: Dyslexia and related reading difficulties affect foundational skills such as decoding and fluency. Staff told trustees that early screening can pinpoint specific literacy skill gaps so teachers can target interventions before later comprehension problems appear. The presenter emphasized that screening results are not diagnoses and do not automatically trigger special education; rather, they are intended to guide instruction and, where warranted, further assessment.

What the board approved and next steps: The board approved Multitudes as the district’s recommended screener and authorized staff to run a limited spring trial to test workflows and reporting. Staff estimated roughly 1,200 students in kindergarten through second grade would need screening. The district expects the state per‑pupil allocation (about $20–$21 per child) to cover assessor costs; staff estimated the district’s initial cost would be roughly $28,000–$35,000 and said a trial will clarify actual needs.

Implementation details discussed: Staff described the timeline imposed by the legislation: districts must adopt a screener by June and screen students within the first 90 calendar days of the school year, with parent notification required within 45 days of screening. The presenter said the district already performs frequent literacy assessments and multi‑tiered interventions and that the screener’s value would be in providing more targeted data on areas such as phonological awareness, blending and decoding. Multitudes was recommended in part because it is available in English and Spanish and has California‑based validation on populations similar to San Rafael’s language learners.

Trustee concerns and district commitments: Trustees pressed staff about the risk of false positives or language‑related misclassification for multilingual students and about the district’s plans to avoid alarming families. Staff acknowledged both issues and said multilingual administration (including Spanish where appropriate), careful parent communications, and educator professional development would be priorities. The presenter noted that the state will provide some guidance but that district materials and outreach will need local tailoring.

Board vote and follow up: A motion to approve the recommendation carried by voice vote; those present answered “Aye.” Staff said they would proceed with a trial as soon as Multitudes can provide access, prepare parent and staff communications this summer and fall, and return to the board next winter with lessons learned and any recommended adjustments.

Ending: Staff framed the adoption as a step to make early literacy interventions more precise and actionable while committing to training and careful family outreach to avoid misinterpretation of screening results.