Hello, California teachers and leaders!

Please visit our technical onboarding website for information regarding enrollment and licensing.

Access information here regarding what types of permissions teachers, principals, and district administrators need to assess students and access data in mCLASS.

According to EC 53008(e) and (f), LEAs must screen all students in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 at least once each school year.

Additionally, LEAs shall not administer a screening instrument to a kindergarten student before the 91st school day in the school year. This requirement does not limit a district from utilizing mCLASS DIBELS as a beginning of year screener, therefore the BOY assessment can be administered.  But, a BOY administration cannot be used as the required screening administration for risk of reading difficulties which needs to occur after the 91st day of school.  More information can be found here: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cl/screenerfaqs.asp

EC 53008(e) also states that when determining the right time during the school year to administer state-approved screening instruments, an LEA must consider whether students “have received sufficient instruction in foundational reading skills to support a valid assessment.” This section further notes that this requirement does not “restrict LEAs from providing pupils additional screenings or diagnostic evaluations, as appropriate.”

Schedule three benchmark assessments per year:

• Beginning of year (BOY, Benchmark 1): Months 1–3
• Middle of year (MOY, Benchmark 2): Months 4–6
• End of year (EOY, Benchmark 3): Months 7–9

The following are suggested dates using as an example a Sept.–June school calendar:

• September (BOY)
• January (MOY)
• May (EOY)

For instructions on setting mCLASS Benchmark Windows within the platform, refer to this help article.

When you have a late-enrolling student who needs to be screened for reading difficulties within 45 days of enrollment due to legislative requirements, you will likely follow one of the following example approaches:

If your next scheduled benchmark window falls within the required 45-day window, you can wait and screen the student during that regular assessment period along with all other students.

If your benchmark window recently closed and you don’t have strict benchmarks enabled in your mCLASS platform, you can still assess the student using that same benchmark assessment.

• This gives you the most comprehensive picture of where the student stands. The assessment will be administered in the same manner it was during the window. NOTE: This could create an incongruent aggregate data set that does not reflect the same instructional time period for all students being screened.

Conduct progress monitoring using the same measures that would have been required at your most recent benchmark assessment for the student’s grade level and time of year.

• This approach helps you quickly identify the student’s current skill set and plan appropriate next steps for instruction while screening for reading difficulties as required by law. NOTE: Home Connect Letters will not be available for a student who only has progress-monitoring data.

We know that every situation is unique. If you’re unsure which option works best for your specific circumstances, reach out to Emily Lutrick.

Access the mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition materials here.

Access both mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition and mCLASS Lectura materials by navigating to learning.amplify.com/pdlibrary. NOTE: Login is required.

1. Select Explore Programs, then mCLASS.
2. Choose Assessment materials: mCLASS Lectura or mCLASS DIBELS 8.