Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, California will implement a new requirement for annual screening of kindergarten through second-grade students to identify reading difficulties. This initiative aims to provide early identification and support for approximately 1.2 million students.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state’s Reading Difficulties Risk Screener Selection Panel has approved tools for this purpose. These tools will be available to local educational agencies (LEAs) to comply with the new mandate. The goal is to screen all young students for potential reading challenges, including dyslexia.
Previously, California law did not require such screenings. Early detection and intervention can help prevent students from falling behind their peers. In partnership with the legislature, the 2023 Budget Act mandated these screenings starting in the 2025-26 school year using expert-approved tools.
Governor Newsom stated, “I know from my own challenges with dyslexia that when we help children read, we help them succeed.” He emphasized that this step is part of broader efforts to ensure no student falls behind in reading or their future success.
State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond remarked on the importance of early identification: “By identifying potential issues when students are beginning school, we can mitigate more substantial issues later.”
The Reading Difficulties Risk Screener Selection Panel was formed by experts appointed by the State Board of Education in January 2024. Led by Dr. Young-Suk Kim and Yesenia Guerrero, they developed a list of appropriate screening instruments by December 31, 2024.
Efforts to improve literacy have been a focus under Governor Newsom’s administration. Initiatives include deploying over 2,000 literacy coaches and specialists at high-needs schools and developing a Literacy Roadmap for educators during the 2024-25 school year.
Additionally, starting in the 2025-26 school year, universal Transitional Kindergarten (TK) will be fully implemented for all four-year-olds in California. This measure aims to provide a stronger foundation for literacy among young learners.
