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Board adopts MCAS DIBELS reading screener to meet SB 114 requirements; district outlines training and parent-notification plan
Summary
The board voted to adopt MCAS DIBELS as the district’s SB 114–required K–2 reading screener, with staff planning teacher training, parent education, and a winter administration for kindergarten and earlier assessments for 1st–2nd grades.
Superintendent Dr. Wilds briefed the board on Senate Bill 114 and the district’s recommendation to adopt MCAS DIBELS as the district’s risk-of-reading-difficulty screening instrument.
Dr. Wilds explained the law’s requirements and the state review process that resulted in four approved screeners. "Senate 1 1 4... says that starting in the 2526 school year and annually thereafter, a local education agency... must assess each student annually for risk of reading difficulties," she said, laying out the legal framework for the decision. The district convened an ELA subgroup and reviewed all four state-approved screeners; Dr. Wilds said the committee reached consensus recommending DIBELS because of teacher experience, hands-on administration and robust progress-monitoring and reporting features: "we met quick consensus around DIBELS."
Staff described implementation timing: training for teachers and administrators beginning after ELA textbook adoption, a planned winter trimester administration for kindergarten, and earlier assessments (e.g., September) for first and second grades in subsequent years to ensure timely interventions. Dr. Wilds noted statutory parental-notification timelines (notification 10 days prior to screening; results within 45 days) and that the state provided one-time, restricted funding to train staff but that the ongoing cost for some screeners would be an unfunded mandate.
The board moved to adopt MCAS DIBELS and voted in favor by voice vote. Staff said they will return with the formal contract and a training plan and will provide parent/community education to explain results and next steps for students who show risk indicators.
