--- title: More states mandate screenings for reading challenges in young kids description: California’s reading screening program helps identify young kids at risk for reading challenges. Getting help early can make a big difference. slug: more-states-mandate-screenings-for-reading-challenges-in-young-kids author: Stacker published: '2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z' date_modified: '2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/7hFDQCz1gIIZRDfsRZJ9J1/db4a5c98b49e0790ceb98790fa1073e2/lapost-reading-assessment_0.jpg source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/more-states-mandate-screenings-for-reading-challenges-in-young-kids lang: en --- # More states mandate screenings for reading challenges in young kids *By Sirisha Dinavahi for LA Post * California has joined 40 other states in screening kindergarten through second-grade students annually for reading difficulties. The Reading Difficulties Risk Screener Selection Panel approved screening instruments designed to identify students at risk for reading challenges, including [dyslexia](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-dyslexia). Students who don’t read at grade level by third grade are more likely to miss school and face more difficulties in an academic setting, according to [research](https://edsource.org/2022/the-right-to-read-it-took-a-lawsuit-against-california/678069). “I know from [my own challenges with dyslexia](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/video-gavin-newsom-opens-up-about-his-dyslexia) that when we help children read, we help them succeed. By finalizing the reading difficulties screening tools, we are taking an important step toward early, universal reading screenings for California’s kids,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. The screening requirement stems from the 2023 Budget Act, which mandated annual screening for reading difficulties for kindergarten through second-grade students. State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond emphasized the importance of early detection. “Early identification of reading difficulties is essential for providing the individualized support needed for long-term success in reading. By identifying potential issues when students are beginning school, we can mitigate more substantial issues later, ensure better educational outcomes, and support a love of learning for all students,” she said. Dyslexia is recognized as a learning disability under the federal [Individuals with Disabilities Education Act](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/individuals-with-disabilities-education-act-idea-what-you-need-to-know). It’s important to note that not all students with dyslexia are automatically placed in special education classes. A student with dyslexia could qualify for special education, with an IEP, or get classroom accommodations through a 504 plan. Other states like Arizona, Texas, and Florida already mandate screenings for dyslexia. As many as 15–20% of the U.S. population has some form of dyslexia, according to [Sacred Heart University](https://www.sacredheart.edu/news-room/news-listing/as-attention-to-dyslexia-screening-grows-more-experts-are-needed/). Also, an estimated 1 in 5 people in the U.S. have a reading disability, like dyslexia, according to [EdWeek](https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/3-new-studies-to-know-on-screening-students-for-dyslexia/2024/01). The initiative is part of California’s broader literacy strategy, which includes the recent deployment of more than 2,000 literacy coaches and reading specialists in high-needs schools across the state. The California Department of Education plans to support the screening program through its Literacy Roadmap, which will provide educators with guidance on [evidence-based literacy instruction](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-structured-literacy). The department will release grade-level modules throughout the 2024–25 school year. The screening program will coincide with the full implementation of universal transitional kindergarten in the 2025–26 school year, making all 4-year-olds eligible for early education programs. The state’s focus on early literacy intervention reflects research showing that identifying and addressing reading difficulties in early childhood can prevent long-term academic challenges. The longer it takes to diagnose a student with dyslexia, the more difficult it becomes. The Reading Difficulties Risk Screener Selection Panel completed its work ahead of the state’s December 31 deadline. The approved screening tools and related resources are now available for local educational agencies to review as they prepare for the 2025–26 school year implementation. --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [Signs of dyslexia at different ages](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/checklist-signs-of-dyslexia-at-different-ages) - [Classroom accommodations for dyslexia](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/classroom-accommodations-for-dyslexia) - Explore these classroom accommodations for dyslexia. Download and print a list of supports to use at school — and even at home. - [Dyslexia: More than mixing up letters](https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/in-it/dyslexia-more-than-mixing-up-letters) --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/more-states-mandate-screenings-for-reading-challenges-in-young-kids#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/more-states-mandate-screenings-for-reading-challenges-in-young-kids","description":"California’s reading screening program helps identify young kids at risk for reading challenges. 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