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Committee recommends Amplify MCAS DIBELS as district reading difficulty screener; board to consider adoption at next meeting
Summary
After piloting and review, a committee of teachers, specialists and community members recommended the Amplify MCAS DIBELS (and Lectura for Spanish) as the district’s universal K–2 reading difficulty screener; the board signaled intent to act at the next meeting.
A district committee that included classroom teachers, interventionists, special‑education staff and community members recommended Thursday that the board adopt Amplify MCAS DIBELS (and Lectura for Spanish) as the district’s universal reading‑difficulty screener for kindergarten through second grade.
Ms. Nguyen, who led the district’s screener committee, told trustees the group reviewed the state‑approved list of instruments, piloted DIBELS, reviewed demonstrations of other tools and used rubrics from the Sacramento County Office of Education. The committee eliminated the Stanford ROAR because it is validated only for grades 1–2 and English, while the district must screen K–2 and consider English learners.
Nguyen said Amplify MCAS DIBELS scored highest in committee rankings and provides benchmark and progress‑monitoring tools that link to the district’s existing Amplify CKLA curriculum. The committee also prioritized tools that account for English‑language proficiency and that provide clear family communication plans. The district has previously screened using i‑Ready dyslexia screener and participated in UCSF research on another tool.
The state now requires districts to adopt an approved screener and to screen all K–2 students annually beginning next fall; districts must also consider English‑language proficiency in screening plans and notify families of screening results and follow‑up plans. Nguyen said teachers who will administer the screener will receive training; the committee is also considering the instructional‑coach and reading‑intervention teams to increase consistency of administration.
Trustees voiced support for the process and indicated the board will consider formal action at the next meeting; Nguyen said the updated assessment calendar and fall implementation schedule are in preparation.
