K-2 Reading Screener

mCLASS is a state-approved assessment tool and screener used by teachers to understand each child's reading journey. It combines quick, 1-on-1 observations with research-based tasks to see how well students are mastering the building blocks of reading. By using this system, our teachers can instantly identify where your child is thriving and precisely where they might need a little extra support to stay on track.

A Reading Difficulties Screener will:

• Ensure early identification and intervention of K-2 students who may be at risk of reading difficulties.
• Be used as part of a broader process that evaluates student needs and progress.
• Provide information for parents and educators to discuss student needs in an informed way.

A Reading Difficulties Screener will not:

• Determine a disability or provide a diagnosis of dyslexia. It is a "check-up" designed to identify students who may need extra support. It does not replace the formal evaluation process for Special Education or 504 plans.

Yes. Under state law, students can be exempted from screening with the prior written consent of a parent or guardian.

If you do not want your child to participate in this literacy screening, please submit a written request (email or letter) to your child’s teacher or the school office.

Following the completion of the screening window in late May, individual Home Connect Reports will be made available to families. These reports provide a summary of your child’s progress and suggested activities to support their reading journey at home

Your child’s classroom teacher is your best resource! While the Home Connect Report provides a helpful snapshot, your teacher has been working with your child daily and has a deep understanding of their unique strengths, growth, and learning style. If you have questions about your child’s results or want to know how these results connect to what your child is doing in class, we encourage you to reach out to their teacher directly.

The Home Connect Report is a personalized letter that explains your child's reading scores in plain, parent-friendly language. It bridges the gap between the classroom and home by showing you exactly what your child has mastered and what they are still working on.

The report uses a simple color system to show your child’s reading data:

🔵 Blue (Above Benchmark): Your child has surpassed the goal!

🟢 Green (At Benchmark): Your child is on track with minimal risk.

🟡 Yellow (Below Benchmark): Your child needs "Strategic Support" in specific areas.

🔴 Red (Well Below Benchmark): Your child needs "Intensive Support" to get back on track.

One of the best features of the Home Connect report is the customized activity list. Based on your child’s unique scores, the report suggests simple, 5-minute games or activities you can do at home—like practicing specific letter sounds in the car or playing a rhyming game at dinner—to help them improve the specific skills they find challenging.

mCLASS Home Connect - This site provides resources for families to practice and reinforce important literacy skills with their children who are being assessed with mCLASS reading assessments in English & Spanish (toggle top right to change languages). 

In 2023, the California Legislature passed Education Code Section 53008, which declares that early identification is the best way to close academic achievement gaps. Starting with the 2025-26 school year, all schools must screen students in Grades K-2 annually to ensure every child gets the right help at the right time.

No. The screener is simply a "formative" tool to help teachers talk to parents about their child's needs in a more informed way.

This screener is part of a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS).

• Tier 1 (All Students): Most students succeed with the high-quality core instruction you see every day.
• Tier 2/3 (Some Students): If the screener flags a risk, it tells us which "Supplemental" or "Intensified" supports—like small group instruction—your child needs to keep them moving forward with their peers.

If a student is identified as needing more support after being screened, teachers may provide the student with supports and services appropriate to the specific challenges identified by the screening instrument and other pertinent information about the student, which may include the following:

• Evidence-based literacy instruction 
• Progress monitoring
• Early intervention in the regular general education program
• One-on-one or small group intervention
• Further evaluation or diagnostic assessment

No. The screening for risk of reading difficulties is not considered an evaluation or diagnostic tool to establish eligibility for special education and related services pursuant to the IDEA, nor is the screening considered an evaluation to determine eligibility pursuant to Section 504. While the results can help the school identify if a student might benefit from further, more in-depth evaluations, the screener itself does not provide a diagnosis. Importantly, this screening process cannot be used to delay a formal evaluation if one is already necessary or requested. Its primary purpose is to help teachers provide immediate classroom support rather than serving as a medical or legal determination of a disability.

The tasks feel like 1-minute reading games. A teacher sits 1-on-1 with your child. The full screener takes about 7-10 minutes.

Please click the available video links to view demonstrations of each assessment.

Please click the available video links to view demonstrations of each assessment. 

• California Education Code Section 53008
• CDE FAQ Page
• mCLASS Website