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Board approves updated reclassification criteria; district details rollout of new reading-difficulty screener
Summary
The board adopted updated English learner reclassification criteria and heard reports on a districtwide rollout of the MClass/DIBELS reading-difficulty screener and associated teacher training.
The Mount Diablo Unified School District Board of Education approved updated reclassification criteria for English learners and received progress reports on early-literacy screening and intervention at its June 25 meeting.
Board action: The board voted to adopt the updated reclassification criteria for English learners (motion adopted; recorded as approved at the June 25 meeting). The motion was made by Trustee Nzewey and seconded by Trustee Mason.
Nut graf: District staff described a multi-pronged approach to early literacy that combines a state‑approved reading-difficulty screener (MClass/DIBELS for K–2 and the STAR assessment for grades 3–12), professional learning in the science of reading, expanded progress monitoring, and family-facing Home Connect reports. Staff said the changes aim to align assessments, instruction and parent communication and to avoid over‑testing English learners.
What staff presented: Susan Hartwig and colleagues summarized a year of piloting and training for MClass, noting the program’s benchmark and progress-monitoring features. "MClass is on that [state-approved screener] list," staff said, and the district will use MClass (with DIBELS content) for K–2 and STAR for grades 3–12 as local measures where appropriate. Staff emphasized that the screener distinguishes benchmark checks from shorter progress-monitoring measures that enable targeted Tier 2 and Tier 3 supports.
Reclassification criteria: Catherine Fireman, presenting the proposed updates, said the district proposes to retain ELPAC cut scores (state required) and to broaden teacher-evidence criteria so that teacher observation protocols (OPTel) or grades can satisfy the “teacher observations” element of the reclassification rubric. Fireman noted the district’s reclassification rate increased roughly 3 percentage points this year and reported about 780 students reclassified systemwide in 2024–25. She told the board: “I do honestly know just wanna say that I'm excited to, share with you that our district increased 3% of reclassification for this year.”
Opt-outs and special considerations: Staff reiterated that students with IEPs are exempt from the mandatory reading‑difficulty screener element and that multilingual learners’ language-acquisition trajectories will be considered to avoid inappropriate over-identification. Parents will receive opt‑out information and Home Connect reports when students are assessed.
Next steps and monitoring: The district will continue progress monitoring, pilot selected grade-span implementations in 3–5, and attend regional literacy leader training. The board approved the updated reclassification criteria on the motion presented and staff will integrate the screener work into ongoing LCAP and literacy implementation plans.
Provenance: Literacy monitoring and reclassification presentation and the vote occurred during agenda items 13.2 and 13.4 (transcript segments beginning at 2336.61 and 4154.88).
