California approves Amplify’s mCLASS as a Reading Difficulties Risk Screener for K–2 students
Amplify’s mCLASS system has been approved by the California Reading Difficulties Risk Screener Selection Panel (RDRSSP) as one of only three recommended tools for identifying reading difficulties in K–2 students.
This approval allows California school districts to consider mCLASS for the 2025–2026 school year.
The mCLASS platform includes DIBELS 8th Edition and mCLASS Lectura, offering an integrated solution for screening, progress monitoring, and instruction in both English and Spanish. It is the only approved tool that provides a dual-language report, enabling educators to compare assessment results across languages and guide instruction on transferable skills.
Melissa Ulan, executive vice president for literacy at Amplify, commented on the approval:
"We are thrilled that California has recognized the value of mCLASS in supporting educators in identifying and addressing students' literacy needs. Through direct observation of students and detailed reports, mCLASS helps teachers better understand student performance and develop strategies that meet them where they are, closing gaps and strengthening each student's foundational literacy skills."
Key features highlighted by the RDRSSP
Research-driven foundation
The mCLASS assessments were developed in partnership with the University of Oregon, a leader in literacy research.
Cultural and linguistic responsiveness
To address California’s diverse student population, mCLASS assessments are available in both English and Spanish. The system also allows students to take the English test with Spanish-speaking proctors.
Efficient screening practices
The assessments incorporate gating and discontinuation rules, which focus testing on relevant areas and reduce unnecessary or prolonged assessments.
Actionable data
The mCLASS platform provides real-time data, allowing educators to group students by skill level and access targeted instructional resources. Teachers can quickly develop strategies to support student progress using differentiated, skill-based groups and tailored teaching materials.
A system grounded in the Science of Reading
The mCLASS system combines brief, easy-to-use measures with actionable insights designed to support teachers in fostering foundational literacy skills. The program is aligned with the Science of Reading and provides clear steps for educators to follow.
The RDRSSP highlighted the system’s potential to address a range of literacy challenges while offering tools that cater to California’s multilingual and multicultural classrooms. Amplify notes that mCLASS integrates universal screening and dyslexia screening, alongside instructional guidance, into a single comprehensive platform.
