Board approves state‑funded K–2 reading‑difficulty screener; district pilots Multitudes tool

Trustees approved the district’s plan to implement the state‑required K–2 reading‑difficulty screener beginning in the 2025–26 school year. The district piloted the University of California, San Francisco product (Multitudes), one of four vendor options on the state list, and staff recommended the free Multitudes tool because it covers kindergarten through second grade and aligns with California standards.

Implementation and funding: Staff said the district received roughly $18,000 in state funding to support implementation and teacher training; part of the allocation will purchase teacher devices (iPads or touch‑enabled Chromebooks) required for the screening interface. The district piloted the tool in April with 24 teachers across five of the six elementary sites and will implement screening for first and second grades in the fall; kindergarten testing will be scheduled later in the year to accommodate younger students’ needs and recommended windows.

Follow up: Staff said the screener is a universal screening tool, not a diagnostic assessment; identified students will receive follow‑up diagnostic assessments (for example, STAR Early Literacy) and interventions as appropriate. Trustees voted to adopt the screener after brief questions about pilot results and funding.