Be on the lookout next week for an email with your child’s i-Ready (reading and math) or mCLASS (foundational reading) results from the fall assessment window.
Remember, the results from these assessments are not grades. They are one piece of information that helps guide instruction, support learning needs, and track progress over time. If you have questions after reviewing your child’s report, please reach out to their teacher—they are your best partner in understanding and supporting your child’s learning journey.
iReady Info
This school year, our district is using the i-Ready Diagnostic in reading and mathematics to provide teachers with powerful information about student learning. For many years, we have assessed students three times a year to monitor growth. This is based on best practices that help teachers make timely and effective instructional decisions.
We are sharing with you the results from the Fall i-Ready Diagnostic and would like to provide more information about how the assessment works and how it supports your child’s education.
How i-Ready Works
i-Ready is a computer-based, adaptive assessment. This means:
- All students begin at a level based on their grade.
- When a student answers correctly, the test adjusts by giving a more challenging question.
- When a student answers incorrectly, the test provides a slightly easier question.
This adaptive design allows i-Ready to pinpoint each child’s learning level—whether on, above, or below grade level. Teachers receive immediate reports that highlight overall performance, placement levels, and areas of strength and need.
Purpose of the Diagnostic
The i-Ready Diagnostic serves several important purposes:
- Identifying strengths and needs. Results help teachers see what skills students have mastered and where additional support is needed.
- Measuring growth. Because the assessment is administered multiple times a year, teachers and families can track student progress over time.
- Guiding instruction. Teachers use i-Ready results, along with classroom work and other assessments, to plan lessons, provide interventions, and offer enrichment.
It is important to note that:
- i-Ready scores are not grades and are not used for report cards.
- i-Ready is not a diagnostic for learning disabilities. Only trained specialists can make those determinations.
What We Ask of You
As you review your child’s results, we ask for your partnership in three ways:
- Patience. This is our first year implementing i-Ready. As students and teachers become more familiar with the platform, the process will become smoother.
- Trust. Teachers use i-Ready as one of many tools. Their professional judgment, classroom observations, and other assessments all play an important role in understanding your child’s learning.
- Communication. If you have questions about your child’s results, please reach out to their teacher. Teachers are committed to working with families to support every student’s growth.
Learn More
Please visit iReady Family Central to help you become more informed about this assessment.
mClass Info
This year, our district has made an important change to strengthen how we support students in reading. For many years, we have assessed students three times a year to monitor progress, a well-researched best practice that helps teachers make strong and timely instructional decisions. During the previous two years, we used a screening tool called FAST. Beginning this school year, California law (SB114) requires all districts to use a state-approved reading screener for students in kindergarten through second grade. Our district has adopted mCLASS DIBELS (English) and mCLASS Lectura (Spanish). We are providing you with the results from the Fall administration. Because this is a new assessment, we would also like to provide you with information about this new assessment.
How mCLASS Works
- mCLASS is very similar to FAST because both measure foundational reading skills such as letter naming, letter sounds, word reading fluency, and oral reading fluency. The key difference is in how the test is given:
- FAST was administered with paper and pencil.
- mCLASS is digital. Teachers record student responses directly on the computer.
This shift brings advantages. The digital platform instantly captures and analyzes results, giving teachers:
- Immediate feedback and instructional suggestions.
- Time savings, since teachers no longer have to manually enter scores.
Purpose of the Screener
It’s important to understand what this assessment is and what it isn’t:
- Screeners identify strengths and needs so teachers can design purposeful lessons and interventions.
- Screeners are not diagnostic tools. Only trained and specially certified professionals can diagnose reading disabilities such as dyslexia.
- Screeners are not for grading or high-stakes decisions. The law specifically prohibits this.
What We Ask of You
As you review your child’s first set of results, we ask for your partnership in three ways:
- Patience with the transition. Teachers are learning a new platform. With time and practice, the process will become smooth, and the results will be highly useful.
- Trust in teacher judgment. If scores seem unusual, remember this is the first administration and results may not perfectly reflect your child’s abilities yet. Teachers continuously gather information about students every day—this assessment is just one piece of the puzzle.
- Open communication. If you have questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher. They are committed professionals who consider multiple sources of information when planning instruction.
Learn More
Below are links to help you become more informed about this assessment
Understanding Assessments: A Parent’s Guide (11 min)
View a teacher administering mClass to a student: