How do California public schools determine whether students are reading at grade level?
- In 2010, California joined a number of states in adopting Common Core State Standards for what students should know and be able to do in English in each grade.
- In 2014, the California Department of Education began using the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) test to determine how well students were performing in English Language Arts (ELA).
- The SBAC ELA test represented a big change for the previous paper and pencil, multiple choice test: it was taken on a computer and was “adaptive,” meaning it adjusted the difficulty of questions based on previous answers; it administered “performance tasks” to assess students’ writing, research, and critical thinking skills, and it generated an overall ELA score and area-specific performance scores for each student.
- The first SBAC ELA scores from 2015 showed fewer CA students were proficient in reading compared to the previous test. It also showed that English Learner and economically disadvantaged students were further behind in reading than educators thought.
How does SFUSD know if students are reading at grade level?
- Every spring semester, SFUSD students in grades 3-8 and 11 take the SBAC ELA test during spring semester
- For many years, SFUSD’s Common Core-aligned K-5 ELA curriculum was Fountas & Pinnell (F&P), which used a “balanced literacy” or “whole language” approach to reading instruction. F&P’s Benchmark Assessment System (BAS) was used during the year to measure student progress in reading.
- F&P BAS assigned students a letter-based reading level (A-Z) to track reading levels during the school year
- In 2021-2022, concerned that students were not making gains in reading, SFUSD hired The New Teacher Project (TNTP) to evaluate its ELA curriculum. TNTP’s review recommended that SFUSD adopt new comprehensive ELA curriculum that better aligned with SBAC reading proficiency goals.
- In 2023, SFUSD transitioned to a new reading interim assessment tool to better align with instructional shifts and SBAC ELA. This tool, STAR Assessments, are computer adaptive, administered multiple times throughout the year to assess student progress, and take about 20-30 minutes.
- In December 2023, SFUSD reported on the first STAR reading assessment data that showed it was Off Track in its reading goals.
- SFUSD families can refer to this webpage for more information on STAR Assessments: https://www.sfusd.edu/district-assessments
- For the 2024-25 school year, SFUSD adopted new English Language Arts (ELA) core curricula for grades PK-8.
- Grades PK/TK: Creative Curriculum
- Grades K-5 (ELA, Spanish Language Arts, Designated English Language Development): Into Reading
- Grades 6-8 (ELA): EL Education
How does SFUSD identify students who are struggling to read at grade level?
Research shows that early identification of students who are struggling with reading is the key in addressing ELA proficiency. That is why many screenings occur during Kindergarten.
- At the start of Kindergarten, SFUSD administers the Kindergarten Readiness Inventory (KRI), which measures four foundational literacy skills
- As required by state law (Ed. Code 53008), SFUSD conducts annual screening for reading difficulties, including dyslexia, for students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade, using various tools:
- In Kindergarten, SFUSD uses mClass DIBELS
- In Grades 1 and 2, SFUSD uses Amira
Using these screeners, STAR Assessment data, and teacher observations, SFUSD can identify students for “Tier 2” literacy intervention and, if needed, escalate students to “Tier 3” literacy instruction that provides the most individualized and intensive intervention for students.