Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Screening for Risk of Reading Difficulties FAQs

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers regarding the LEA requirements for Screening for Risk of Reading Difficulties.

For purposes of these FAQs, the term California Department of Education is referred to as CDE; Education Code is referred to as EC; the term English Language Arts is referred to as ELA; the term English Language Development is referred to as ELD; the term Local Educational Agency is referred to as LEA; the term Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is referred to as IDEA; the term Individualized Education Plan is referred to as IEP; the term Reading Difficulties Risk Screener Selection Panel is referred to as Panel.

California Education Code Section 53008

Purpose of the Requirement to Screen Pupils for Risk of Reading Difficulties

What is the purpose of the requirement to screen pupils for risk of reading difficulties?

Local Educational Agency Adoption of Screening Instrument(s)

When must a local educational agency (LEA) adopt the screening instrument(s)?
Is an LEA required to adopt the screening instrument(s) at a public meeting?
How many screening instruments must an LEA adopt?
Is an LEA required to go through a piloting process prior to adopting the screening instrument(s)?
Can an LEA use an alternative version of an approved screening instrument? (Added 26-Mar-25)

Use of Screening Instruments for Multilingual and English Learner Pupils

What if a pupil does not speak sufficient English to be screened with an English-language screening instrument?
Will the screener(s) be available in pupils’ primary languages?
What if a screening instrument is not available in a pupil’s primary language? Will the pupil still be evaluated? How?
What if a screening instrument in the pupil’s primary language becomes available?
What if a pupil acquires sufficient English language knowledge and fluency to be able to be assessed using an adopted screening instrument?
May an LEA use the results of a screening to reclassify English learners?
How is “sufficient English” or “language proficiency” defined for purposes of screening? (Added 26-Mar-25)
May the results of the screening pursuant to EC 53008 be used to reclassify students from English Learner status to Fluent English Proficient status, including to satisfy Criterion 4, “Basic Skills Relative to English Proficient Students"? (Added 26-Mar-25)

Eligibility

Which pupils must an LEA assess using the screening instrument(s)?

Administration of Screenings

When and how often must an LEA administer the screening instrument(s) to pupils?
Is an LEA required to screen all pupils in kindergarten and grades one and two each year, even if pupils have been screened the previous year?
Is an LEA required to administer the screening instrument(s) to a pupil who enrolls in the LEA after the LEA has administered the screening instrument(s) to pupils?
May an LEA screen a pupil in more than one language?
Is professional learning or training required before administering the screening instrument(s)?
May LEAs use the same instrument to screen students for risk of reading difficulties and to conduct an interim assessment of student progress? (Added 26-Mar-25)

Information for Parents and Guardians

What information must an LEA provide parents about the screening process?
Is an LEA required to share a pupil’s screening results with the pupil’s parent or guardian? If so, when must the LEA share the results with the pupil’s parent or guardian?
When is an LEA required to translate the information in a pupil’s screening results?

Exceptions

May a parent or guardian opt out of the screening?
Must the LEA screen a pupil who enrolls after the screener has already been administered to all pupils in the given grade in that school year?
Are LEAs required to screen pupils who have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 plan, are in the process of being assessed for eligibility for an IEP or a 504 plan, or have a current identification or diagnosis of a reading difficulty, reading disorder, or other disability using the screening instrument(s)?
What instructions are LEAs required to provide parents or guardians about how to opt out of the screening on behalf of their child? (Added 26-Mar-25)
What is required by a parent or guardian to opt out of the screening on behalf of their child? (Added 26-Mar-25)
Are LEAs required to create an opt out form for parents or guardians? (Added 26-Mar-25)
Are LEAs required to screen students with disabilities who the LEA has placed in a nonpublic school pursuant to the student's IEP? (Added 26-Mar-25)

Use of Screening Results

How must a local educational agency (LEA) use a pupil’s screening results?
Are there limits to how an LEA may use the screening results?
May an LEA use screening instruments to determine a pupil’s eligibility for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan?
Is there a participation rate target and what reporting requirements are applicable to LEAs? (Added 26-Mar-25)

Post-Screening Services to Pupils

If a pupil is identified as being at risk of having reading difficulties after being screened, what supports and services must an LEA provide that pupil?

Creating the Approved List of Screening Instruments

What actions were taken to create the approved list of screening instruments for reading difficulties as required by EC 53008? (Added 26-Mar-25)
Did the Panel produce any written materials (e.g., score sheets or comments) during its consideration of screening instrument applications? (Added 29-Jul-25)

 

Questions:   California Statewide Literacy Office | statewideliteracycampaign@cde.ca.gov
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, July 30, 2025