Emery USD to Adopt Critical Reading Difficulty Screeners as State Deadline Looms
The Emery Unified School District Board of Trustees will vote on the adoption of reading difficulties screening instruments at their June 28th meeting, addressing a state-mandated requirement with significant implications for early literacy intervention. This decision comes just days before the June 30, 2025 deadline established by California law and represents a pivotal moment for the district’s approach to identifying and supporting struggling readers.
State Mandate Drives Urgent Action
The California Legislature has determined that screening pupils for reading difficulties, including dyslexia, is an essential tool for educators to support student learning. Under state law, all local educational agencies serving students in kindergarten through second grade must adopt appropriate screening instruments by June 30, 2025.
“Screening should be considered part of a school’s comprehensive instructional strategy,” states the legislative guidance included in the board agenda, emphasizing that these assessments should be used “to inform individualized instruction, measure a pupil’s progress, identify pupil learning needs, and enable parents and educators to discuss pupil needs in a more informed way.”
What the Screeners Will Do
The reading difficulty screeners will serve multiple purposes within Emery USD:
- Early Identification: Detect potential reading challenges before students fall significantly behind peers
- Targeted Intervention: Provide data to inform individualized support strategies
- Progress Monitoring: Track student growth and response to interventions
- Parent-Teacher Communication: Create a shared understanding of student needs
Importantly, the district must select instruments that accommodate both English-speaking pupils and non-English speaking pupils. The agenda notes that assessments must be available “in languages reflecting the primary languages of pupils in the local educational agency, to the extent assessments in those languages are available.”
Part of a Broader Literacy Strategy
The adoption of these screening tools aligns with Emery USD’s stated district goals of providing “equitable access to educational opportunities” and ensuring students “learn and demonstrate 21st century skills.” Early reading proficiency is widely recognized as a foundational skill that impacts all other academic areas and long-term educational outcomes.
According to the board presentation materials prepared for the June 28th meeting, the district appears to have conducted research on available screening options and will present recommendations that meet both state requirements and local needs.
Why Parents and Community Members Should Care
The selection of appropriate screening tools has far-reaching implications:
- Early Intervention: Research consistently shows that early identification and intervention for reading difficulties leads to better outcomes
- Equity Concerns: Ensuring multilingual learners receive appropriate assessment is critical for educational equity
- Resource Allocation: The adoption will influence how the district allocates support resources
- Parent Advocacy: Standardized screening provides parents with objective data to advocate for their children’s needs
Next Steps After Adoption
Once the Board approves the screening instruments, the district will need to:
- Train teachers and staff on administering the assessments
- Establish protocols for using the data to inform instruction
- Develop communication systems to share results with parents
- Create intervention pathways for students identified as at-risk
- Monitor the effectiveness of both the screening tools and subsequent interventions
Community Input Welcome
The June 28th meeting offers community members an opportunity to provide input on this critical decision. Parents of young children, literacy specialists, and community advocates are encouraged to attend either in person or via Zoom (Meeting ID: 813 796 806, Passcode: 229063) and share their perspectives during the public comment period.
The meeting begins at 6:00 PM, with the reading screener discussion listed as item #5 under Discussion/Action Items. A presentation titled “Board Presentation 6_25_25- Reading Screener” is referenced in the agenda materials and will likely provide additional details on the district’s recommendations.
As the deadline approaches, this decision represents an important step in Emery USD’s ongoing efforts to identify learning needs early and provide appropriate support to ensure all students develop strong literacy skills.
Sources: 06.28 Regular Meeting of the Emery USD Board of Trustees.pdf
