Universal screening
Last updated
Universal screening is a brief assessment given to all students, usually three times a year, to find those who may need extra support.
Topic: Evaluation and assessment
In plain terms
Screeners are quick checks of key skills, such as early literacy, reading fluency, math or behavior. They are given to every student in a grade, often in fall, winter and spring. Students who score below a cut point get a closer look and may receive intervention. Screening is the entry point to a tiered support system, not a diagnosis.
How it shows up in an IEP
Screening data can be part of a student's present levels and helps show how the student compares with grade-level expectations over time. It can also prompt a referral for evaluation when a student keeps scoring low despite help.
Example
In fall screening, a kindergartner names 8 letters in one minute, well below the cut point. The student joins a small letter-sound group and is checked every two weeks.
The rule
Rules vary by state. Check your state's regulations and your district's procedures.
Related terms
- MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports)MTSS is a schoolwide framework that uses data to give every student the right level of academic, behavioral and social-emotional support.
- RTI (Response to Intervention)RTI is a school process that screens all students, gives tiered extra instruction to those who struggle, and uses progress data to decide what help comes next.
- Curriculum-based measurement (CBM)Curriculum-based measurement is a set of brief, standardized, timed probes that measure a general skill, such as reading or math, to track growth over time.
- Child FindChild Find is the duty of every state and school district to identify, locate and evaluate all children with disabilities who may need special education.
- Progress monitoringProgress monitoring is the regular, repeated measurement of a student's performance on a skill to check whether instruction is working.
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