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What is Assessment Literacy?
Assessment literacy is the understanding and effective use of student assessments to support learning and improve educational outcomes. It involves the knowledge, beliefs, and practices that help all members of the school community—including teachers, students, families, administrators, and policymakers—use assessment as a tool for growth.
How We Assess Literacy in San Diego Unified
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To support every student's reading journey, San Diego Unified uses key tools to check in on students’ literacy progress throughout the year:
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For students in Grades K–2, we use mCLASS DIBELS 8, which helps us understand how young readers are building foundational skills such as recognizing letters, sounding out words, reading comprehension, and reading fluently.
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As part of California State Senate Bill 114, all school districts are required to use a state-approved universal screener to assess foundational reading skills in grades K–2. This screening helps identify students who may be at risk for reading difficulties, including dyslexia. In San Diego Unified, we are using mCLASS DIBELS 8 to meet this requirement and to better understand our students’ reading development so we can provide timely, targeted literacy support.
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For students in Grades 3–9, we use i-Ready Reading, which shows how well students understand what they read, along with vocabulary and comprehension growth.
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The i-Ready Diagnostic is a computer-adaptive assessment that adjusts the difficulty of questions in real time based on student responses. It identifies each student's proficiency level across reading and math, providing a detailed view of their strengths and areas for growth. The data supports personalized instruction and allows educators to monitor academic progress throughout the year—not for grading, but to guide meaningful teaching decisions.
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These assessments help teachers tailor instruction to meet students’ needs. The data also helps families and educators identify areas where reteaching or additional support may be helpful—both at school and at home. It provides a clear picture of student progress and supports strong partnerships between school and home.
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In addition, the results help district leaders and policymakers make informed decisions about literacy supports and resources across our schools.
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📎 For more information including administration reporting, and timelines, please visit our Assessment Website.
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