California Mandates Universal Reading Difficulty Screening for Kindergarten to 2nd Grade
California has become the 40th state to mandate universal screening for reading difficulties, including dyslexia, among kindergarten to second-grade students. This move comes as research shows that early signs of reading differences and dyslexia can be spotted as early as preschool age.
The screeners will assess pre-reading skills such as sound manipulation, object naming, and word memory. Difficulty rhyming, remembering words, and sound reversals can indicate early signs of dyslexia. If a child struggles, they can be referred for further evaluation and receive more intensive tutoring.
Early identification allows teachers to provide targeted interventions before students fall behind in reading. Once at-risk children are identified, they can receive targeted instruction and extra practice time.
California's new screening program aims to identify children with reading difficulties and early signs of dyslexia. This early intervention will help ensure that all students have the support they need to succeed in reading and beyond.
