DIBELS Testing

East Liverpool City Schools utilizes DIBELS 8th Edition as a universal screener and progress monitoring tool for students in grades K–4. DIBELS measures the development of key early literacy and reading skills, allowing teachers to identify students who may need additional support in foundational reading areas such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and comprehension.

Administered three times per year—fall, winter, and spring—DIBELS provides timely data that informs instructional decisions, guides small-group interventions, and supports the district’s implementation of the Science of Reading. The results from DIBELS are used in conjunction with other data sources to ensure that every student is on track toward reading proficiency and grade-level success.

How We Use DIBELS Data

DIBELS data is a cornerstone of how East Liverpool City Schools identifies, supports, and monitors student literacy progress across grades K–4. Following each benchmark window, results are reviewed by grade-level and intervention teams to determine which students may need additional support or enrichment.

Student performance is categorized into risk levels that align with the district’s Decision Rules for Literacy Support and Response to Intervention (RTI) framework.

• Students identified as At Risk or Some Risk receive targeted small-group or individual instruction through the district’s Walk to Intervention model.
  
  

• Students identified as Low Risk continue to receive differentiated instruction within Tier 1 core reading instruction.
  
  

The Walk to Intervention model ensures that all students receive the right level of support during designated intervention blocks each day. Teachers use DIBELS data to group students by need, adjust instruction, and measure progress through ongoing progress monitoring.

For students reading below grade level, DIBELS results also inform the creation and tracking of Reading Improvement and Monitoring Plans (RIMPs) in compliance with Ohio’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee.

By consistently using DIBELS data and the Walk to Intervention framework, East Liverpool City Schools ensures that early literacy instruction is data-driven, equitable, and responsive to each student’s individual needs.

Related Resources

These resources support staff in the consistent and effective use of DIBELS data, the Walk to Intervention model, and early literacy practices across all K–4 classrooms in East Liverpool City Schools.

1. DIBELS 8th Edition Information (Amplify)
   Overview of DIBELS 8th Edition, including benchmark measures, scoring, and interpretation guidance.
   
   

2. Amplify DIBELS Training Materials
   Professional development modules and user guides for administering and interpreting DIBELS assessments.
   
   

3. Decision Rules for Literacy Support – ELCSD
   District-defined criteria for determining intervention levels, grouping, and monitoring expectations for literacy support.
   
   

4. Walk to Intervention Framework
   ELCSD’s structured approach to daily intervention blocks, including scheduling, grouping, and data review processes.
   
   

5. Reading Improvement and Monitoring Plan (RIMP) Template
   Template for documenting student goals, progress, and supports under the Third Grade Reading Guarantee.