Board adopts three‑year literacy plan and selects MClass/DIBELS as state reading screener

Assistant Superintendent Sergio Mendes presented the final draft of the Merced City School District three‑year literacy plan. The plan centers on five strategic goals: building staff literacy capacity through targeted professional development, piloting and aligning ELA curriculum, strengthening MTSS and progress monitoring, enhancing internal and external collaborations, and directing resources and pacing to improve reading outcomes.

As part of a state requirement, the district also selected a reading‑difficulties risk screener to deploy next school year. The district conducted research on the state’s approved options, convened teachers and administrators, and surveyed staff (roughly 290 respondents). The majority selected MClass DIBELS (8th edition) as the screener the district will adopt (vendor distribution via Amplify was noted).

Trustees approved the literacy plan and the selection of MClass DIBELS on May 13. Staff described next steps: finalizing professional‑learning plans for literacy this summer, piloting curriculum updates pending state guidance, and implementing the new screener K–3 (and grades covered per state guidance) with training and progress monitoring.

Why it matters: The plan and screener selection position the district to standardize early‑grade reading identification and interventions tied to the science of reading and structured literacy practices.

Board action: Both the literacy plan and the screener choice were adopted unanimously; staff will return with implementation timelines and budget details tied to curriculum piloting and PD.