K-2 Reading Difficulty Risk Screener Updates
What you need to know: Starting next school year all K-2 students will be screened for reading difficulties, including dyslexia, using mclass dibels. this is a paper-based assessment system where teachers live score student responses on their laptop. 3 hours of training will take place during tracy unified's pre-service day on wednesday, july 30. this training is expected to continue during the 2026-27 school year. 2nd grade will not continue to use areading as a risk screener, though they will continue to use amath.
At the end of April our Reading Difficulty Risk Screener Committee recommended the formal adoption of mClass Dibels as our required risk screener for implementation beginning next school year. The committee cited the ease of use for mClass Dibels compared to other platforms, accessibility for students, and the ability to listen to student strengths and struggles when completing the screener as a few of the main reasons for this recommendation. mClass Dibels is expected to be formally adopted by the Tracy Unified School Board at the May 27 board meeting.
Students complete 1-5 screening assessments as a part of this program. Each screening assessment is administered 1-on-1 and takes 1 minute to complete. Assessments focus on the following:
| Screening Area | Assessment | Kinder | 1st Grade | 2nd Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid Naming Ability | Letter Naming Fluency | X | X | |
| Phonological Awareness | Phoneme Segmentation Fluency | X | X | |
| Alphabetic Principle | Nonsense Word Fluency | X | X | X |
| Word Reading | Word Reading Fluency | X | X | X |
| Word Reading | Oral Reading Fluency | X | X | |
| Comprehension | Maze | X |
Training during pre-service will focus on administering this assessment. Additional support from Professional Learning is also in the works. Training is expected to continue during Tracy Unified Pre-Service during the 2026.27 school year with a focus on interpretation and use of assessment data.
mClass Dibels Information
To learn more about mClass Dibels take a look at the video and links below.
Q & A Sessions
Next week Stephen Theall, Director of Professional Learning & Curriculum, will hold to 2 virtual Q & A sessions on these updates. Dates, times, and links below:
Tuesday, May 20
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Join the meeting now
Wednesday May 21
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Join the meeting now
Resources
-
mClass Dibels Screener Website
- mClass Dibels Fact Sheet
- mClass Dibels Program Guide
- mClass Dibels Reporting Guide
- Administration and Scoring Help
- mClass Dibels Administration and Scoring Guide
- mClass Assessment Recommendations for English Learners
- mClass Dibels: Learn more about mClass here
- State Reading Difficulty Risk Screener FAQ: Screening for Risk of Reading Difficulties FAQs
- Reading Difficulty Risk Screener Adoption Toolkit: Access the toolkit here
- California Education Code: Ed Code: EDC 53008
- Announcement of Approved Screening Instruments: Approved Reading Risk Screening Tools for Students - Letters (CA Dept of Education)