Screening and Assessments

Provides guidance and resources to support California’s Screening for Risk of Reading Difficulties requirements, including approved screening instruments, implementation tools, assessment information, and early intervention supports for students.

Screening for Risk of Reading Difficulties

Information about the Reading Difficulties Risk Screener authorized by California Education Code Section 53008.

Overview

The Screening for Risk of Reading Difficulties allows for early identification and intervention of reading difficulties, including dyslexia, for students in kindergarten to grade two. Education Code (EC) Section 53008 requires all California local educational agencies (LEAs) to adopt a screening instrument by June 30, 2025, and implement screening beginning no later than the 2025–2026 school year. The LEAs select their screening instrument from the list approved by the Reading Difficulties Risk Screener Selection Panel (RDRSSP) appointed by the State Board of Education.

Screening Instruments and Information Overviews

Organization	Title	Grade Levels	Languages	Information Overviews
Distributed by Amira Learning or HMH (formerly Amira Learning, with HMH as distribution partners)	Amira	Kindergarten, Grade One, and Grade Two	English and Spanish	Amira Information Overview
Amplify Education	mCLASS with DIBELS Edition 8 and mCLASS Lectura	Kindergarten, Grade One, and Grade Two	English and Spanish	mClass with DIBELS Edition 8 and mClass Lectura Information Overview
University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Dyslexia Center	Multitudes	Kindergarten, Grade One, and Grade Two	English and Spanish	Multitudes Information Overview
Stanford University, Brain Development and Education Lab	Rapid Online Assessment of Reading (ROAR)	Grade One and Grade Two	English only	ROAR Information Overview

Communication and Resources

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Webinar Series: Screening for Risk of Reading Difficulties
Letters to the field
- Screening Students for Risk of Reading Difficulties, December 11, 2024
- Screening Students for Risk of Reading Difficulties, December 17, 2024
Adoption Toolkit: Reading Difficulties Risk Screener, 2024 (Updated 18-Dec-2025)
Developed by the Curricular and Improvement Support Committee of the California County Superintendents.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this resource do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of the California Department of Education (CDE). The CDE does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any information included in the resource.

Policy

Education Code Section 53008
Reading Difficulties Risk Screener Selection Panel (RDRSSP)
- Information about the Reading Difficulties Risk Screener Selection Panel authorized by California Education Code Section 53008.
California Dyslexia Guidelines (PDF)

California Assessment System

Information about the state assessments, including those for English language arts, English Language Development, and biliteracy.

Assessment System
Lists the tests of the California Assessment System by subject, content, test name, test type, student participant groups, grade levels, and testing window timeframe.
California Assessment Timeline (PDF)
Presents assessment administration timeline.
California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System
California's statewide student assessment system.
Smarter Balanced Assessment System
Information about the state assessments in English language arts/literacy and mathematics.

Questions: California Statewide Literacy Office | statewideliteracycampaign@cde.ca.gov

Last Reviewed: Tuesday, September 1, 2026

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