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Board adopts mClass/DIBELS as district reading screener to meet SB 114; training and parent outreach planned
Summary
To comply with Senate Bill 114, the Hermosa Beach board approved mClass (DIBELS) as the district risk‑of‑reading‑difficulties screener, with staff to train teachers, schedule winter screenings for kindergarten and set timelines for parent notification and follow‑up progress monitoring.
The Hermosa Beach City School District Board voted to adopt the mClass DIBELS screener as its risk‑of‑reading‑difficulties instrument to meet Senate Bill 114 requirements. The district will implement training, parent outreach and progress monitoring protocols before full winter administration.
Superintendent Dr. Wilds reviewed SB 114 obligations: beginning in 2025–26, local education agencies must assess K–2 students annually for risk of reading difficulties using a state‑approved screener. Staff outlined the review process: the California Department of Education convened an expert panel and approved four screeners (two commercial and two university‑affiliated), and the district’s ELA subgroup examined all four options (mClass/DIBELS, AMIRA, ROAR and Multitudes).
The district committee favored mClass/DIBELS for its teacher‑centered administration, robust reporting and progress‑monitoring tools. District staff noted pros and cons: ROAR (Stanford) is free but does not cover all grade levels and lacks the same backend progress‑monitoring detail; other vendors vary in user experience and reporting. The board discussed how screener data will be used (not for high‑stakes identification or disability diagnosis) and agreed to a winter administration window (targeting a December–January start for staff training) with parent notification 10 days prior to screening and report delivery within 45 days, per the statute’s timing references discussed at the meeting.
Staff emphasized that the law is largely an unfunded mandate; the superintendent said the state provided a one‑time small amount (figures cited in the meeting included $7,282 and $8,200 as restricted amounts) that may only be used for staff training. District staff estimated the incremental per‑student cost for a commercial screener with progress monitoring is typically a few dollars per pupil and said the district will negotiate a multiyear contract.
The board approved the recommendation to adopt mClass/DIBELS; staff will schedule teacher training, parent information sessions (recorded and in‑person), and winter screening administration for kindergarten with first‑ and second‑grade timing to be refined for future years. Staff also committed to using screening results to guide Tier 1 fidelity and Tier 2 interventions and to conduct frequent progress monitoring for students identified at risk.
