DIBELS (Reading – READ ACT)

Achieving reading competency by the end of third grade is a critical milestone for every student and predicts ongoing educational success. Suppose a student enters fourth grade without achieving reading competency. In that case, he or she is significantly more likely to fall behind in all subject areas beginning in fourth grade and later grades.

Early literacy development is not only a critical milestone in a child's path to success, but it is also one of Colorado's top education priorities. The Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act (the READ Act), passed by the Colorado Legislature in 2012, focuses on early literacy development for all students, especially for students at risk of not achieving third-grade reading proficiency. The READ Act focuses on kindergarten through third grade (K-3) literacy development, literacy assessment, and individual READ plans for students with significant reading deficiencies.

Our teachers use proven instructional strategies and closely track student progress through periodic assessments that keep us informed about each student’s needs. If a student faces a challenge, we will know it early and address it immediately. We are assessing your child three times this year with mCLASS®:DIBELS Next®.

mCLASS:DIBELS Next instantly analyzes your child’s development in grade-appropriate foundational reading skills. Teachers use this data to focus their instruction around your child’s specific needs in areas that may include:

• Hearing and using sounds in spoken words (Phonemic Awareness)
• Knowing sounds of letters and sounding out written words (Alphabetic Principle)
• Reading words in stories easily, quickly, and correctly (Accuracy and Fluency)
• Understanding what they read (Reading Comprehension)

The teacher’s efforts in school and your support and encouragement at home will ensure your child reads with mastery and confidence.

Suppose the student is determined to have a significant reading deficiency. In that case, teachers must administer one or more state board-approved diagnostic assessments to determine the student’s specific reading skill deficiencies. The READ Act requires creating and implementing an individual intervention plan (called a READ plan) for students identified with a Significant Reading Deficiency (SRD). The Act outlines specific components that must be included in a READ plan to ensure the effectiveness of the intervention strategies.

Family involvement is a key element in a student’s education. Amplify offers mCLASS® Home Connect®. The Home Connect site provides resources for families to use at home to reinforce and practice important reading skills and can be used by any family. The Home Connect site is your portal for finding activities to practice essential literacy skills with your child. Use the site with guidance from your child’s teacher.