Embedded Files
Scroll down to "Mastery Tests" for links to the SIPPS Illuminate Assessments
Scroll down to "Mastery Tests" for links to the SIPPS Illuminate Assessments
View the SIPPS Mastery Test 1-Pager to learn more about the assessments.
SIPPS Participation Guidance 2025-26 updated 10/6/25
SIPPS Participation Guidance 2025-26 updated 10/6/25
Our SIPPS guidelines have changed significationly in 2025-26, as many schools are using SIPPS only for Tier 2 students. Please read the information in the drop downs below to better understand which students should receive SIPPS Placement tests, and which students should receive SIPPS. Questions? Please email Early Literacy Director Jamilah Sanchez, jamilah.sanchez@ousd.org or Research Associate Rinat Fried, rinat.fried@ousd.org
SIPPS Placement Participation Guidelines:
SIPPS Placement Participation Guidelines:
Please begin SIPPS placements and enter data into Renaissance Illuminate as early as possible in August.
Please begin SIPPS placements and enter data into Renaissance Illuminate as early as possible in August.
Which students need a SIPPS placement?
SEI
Students below grade level in Beginning of Year (BOY) DIBELS Composite
If there is no BOY DIBELS Composite data, students below grade level on the fall i-Ready Phonics assessment. Please note: if a student is below grade level in i-Ready Phonics but At/Above in the DIBELS Composite, the DIBELS Composite is determinative.
If you wish to begin SIPPS placements before BOY DIBELS or BOY i-Ready Phonics data is available, use i-Ready Phonics data from the prior spring. If using spring data, test students who placed early on or below grade level.
Dual Language:
SP 50-50 students in 1st and 2nd grade using SIPPS for tier 1 instruction
SP 90-10 students in 2nd grade using SIPPS for tier 1 instruction
SP 50-50 and SP 90-10 students in Grades 3-5 who are below grade level as determined by DIBELS Composite or i-Ready Phonics scores described above
SIPPS Exemptions:
Students receiving Tier 3 intervention (Ignite, OpenLiteracy)
Schools piloting UFLI or Elevate
Newcomers
Kindergarten until December
Students in Mild-mod or extensive support Special Ed classes.
How do I determine SIPPS Placements?
There are two possible methods for determining a student’s SIPPS placement.
There are two possible methods for determining a student’s SIPPS placement.
Default method: Back up 10 lessons from the last Mastery Test passed in May of the prior school year for Beginning or Challenge SIPPS Levels, or 5 lessons for Extension.
For example, if a student passed Beginning Mastery Test 3 (which follows lesson 30) last May, start this fall at Beginning lesson 21.
For example, if a student passed Beginning Mastery Test 3 (which follows lesson 30) last May, start this fall at Beginning lesson 21.
Exception: first graders who passed Beginning MT6 in May of their kindergarten year should begin the current school year at SIPPS Extension Review lesson 11 (instead of Beginning lesson 41).
Exception: first graders who passed Beginning MT6 in May of their kindergarten year should begin the current school year at SIPPS Extension Review lesson 11 (instead of Beginning lesson 41).
Last year's mastery tests can be found on the SIPPS Mastery Test Sequence Dashboard or SIPPS Student Profile.
Last year's mastery tests can be found on the SIPPS Mastery Test Sequence Dashboard or SIPPS Student Profile.
If the student did not pass a mastery test in May of the prior school year or later, or are new to the district, administer the SIPPS Placement Assessment.
Where can I find last years’ student data?
i-Ready Phonics - Use Data Rosters
SIPPS Mastery Sequence Dashboard - View most recent passed MT
When should we start SIPPS?
You may begin SIPPS lessons as soon as placement data is entered into Renaissance Illuminate.
What about students receiving tier 3 literacy support?
OUSD will provide schools with tier 3 rosters in September. Existing SIPPS groups may change as a result. Some students will begin tier 3 tutoring; others may switch between tiers 1 and 2.
If your schedule allows, you may continue working with students receiving tier 3 tutoring in your SIPPS small groups.
SIPPS Participation Guidelines:
SIPPS Participation Guidelines:
Beginning in 2025-26 school year, SIPPS is a Tier 2 program for SEI programs, and continues to be a Tier 1 and 2 program for Dual Language schools.
Exemption rules are complex. Here are several data sources to help make sense of who is included and not included:
SIPPS Monthly Exempt Summary: Monitor number of exempt and non-exempt student each month by reason
SIPPS Monthly Exempt Roster: Use this report to see student SIPPS exempt status each month.
Literacy Tier Data Wall NEW - A Data wall showing students Literacy Tier, alongside their DIBELS, Lectura, i-Ready and i-Ready Spanish
Here are the students who are exempt from SIPPS i 2025-26:
Tier 3 Student
Tier 1 Student
Grade 1 Students in 90-10 courses
Recent newcomer
All Students Exempt in August
Grade K students in 50-50 and 90-10 courses
School piloting an alternative curriculum for this grade
Grade 3-5 student completed SIPPS Challenge 4A/5A, 4B/5B, 4C/5C
Grade 2 student completed SIPPS Challenge 4A or 5A
Grade 1 student completed SIPPS Extension this year
Grade K student completed SIPPS Beginning this year
Student in Mild-Mod or MMESN Course
Grade 3-5 student at/above grade in or Tested Out of i-Ready Phonics
Not SIPPS Ready
Tested Out
SPIRE Recommended
Kinders exempt until December
Entering SIPPS Placement Data Grades K-3 (Beginning - Challenge)
Entering SIPPS Placement Data Grades K-3 (Beginning - Challenge)
- Teacher materials:
Instructions for adding a Second SIPPS Placement (if you need to update during the school year)
Entering SIPPS Placement Data Grades 4-5 (PLUS- Challenge)
Entering SIPPS Placement Data Grades 4-5 (PLUS- Challenge)
Instructions for adding a Second SIPPS Placement (if you need to update during the school year)
How to Administer Placement guides
How to Administer Placement guides
SIPPS & Spanish K-2 Tutors
SIPPS & Spanish K-2 Tutors
Mastery Tests
Mastery Tests
REQUIRED for BELOW GRADE-LEVEL 1st and 2nd Grade Students (SEI) and ALL 2nd Grade Students (SP 50-50 & SP 90-10)
REQUIRED for BELOW GRADE-LEVEL 1st and 2nd Grade Students (SEI) and ALL 2nd Grade Students (SP 50-50 & SP 90-10)
Extension Mastery Tests
Extension Mastery Tests
Extension Mastery Tests
Extension Review Mastery Tests
Challenge Progress Assessments
Challenge Progress Assessments
Challenge A (2nd grade)
Challenge A (2nd grade)
Challenge B (3rd grade)
Challenge B (3rd grade)
Challenge C (4-5th grade)
Challenge C (4-5th grade)
SIPPS PLUS - Mastery Test
SIPPS PLUS - Mastery Test
Viewing Data
Viewing Data
Viewing SIPPS Placement Data
Viewing SIPPS Placement Data
See more reports on Data Reports
Viewing SIPPS Mastery Data
Viewing SIPPS Mastery Data
See Data Reports - SIPPS for a full list of SIPPS dashboards
SIPPS Illuminate Groups
SIPPS Illuminate Groups
Students need to be placed into SIPPS student groups in Illuminate so the SIPPS instructor can give students mastery tests. It also helps you keep track of how each group is progressing.
Students need to be placed into SIPPS student groups in Illuminate so the SIPPS instructor can give students mastery tests. It also helps you keep track of how each group is progressing.
Place students into SIPPS groups in Illuminate after they take the placement test
Place students into SIPPS groups in Illuminate after they take the placement test
Move students between groups when they progress through the program at different rates
Move students between groups when they progress through the program at different rates
How-to guides
How-to guides
How to set up groups
How to view the Illuminate data wall by Student Group
How to enter a second SIPPS Placement Test if you retest a student
Viewing SIPPS groups
Viewing SIPPS groups
View all of your schools SIPPS groups and SIPPS Groups permissions on this OUSD dashboard: SIPPS Groups
Illuminate Reports
Illuminate Reports
Illuminate reports: click the drop-down menus below to access reports for each Mastery Test in Illuminate
Illuminate reports: click the drop-down menus below to access reports for each Mastery Test in Illuminate
When you click these links you will be presented with four report options:
Flashcards: Printable flashcards showing the questions students answered correctly, incorrectly, or both
Item Analysis: School- or classroom-wide trends showing the questions that students most frequently answered correctly/incorrectly
Parent Letter: Letter for parents explaining the questions students answered correctly and incorrectly. Can also include flashcards. Can be in English or Spanish.
Student List: Student-level report showing the questions each student answered correctly and incorrectly
Extension - Reports
Extension - Reports
Challenge - Reports
Challenge - Reports
Challenge A
Challenge B
Challenge C
Getting Access
Request i-Ready, mClass, Clever, Tableau Dashboards or Illuminate Access
Note: only school admins and resource teachers at new schools this year need to request access
If you are in the same role at the same site, your access will roll over from last year
Classroom Teachers should not fill out the form as access is automatic via Clever
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