View the SIPPS Mastery Test 1-Pager to learn more about the assessments.
Which students need a SIPPS placement in August?
SEI
Grade 1-2 students below grade level in Beginning of Year (BOY) DIBELS Composite
Grade 3-5 students below grade level in i-Ready Phonics
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 last year's DIBELS Spring (student below) or i-Ready Phonics (early on or below grade level).
Dual Language:
Simultaneous (SP 50-50) students in 1st and 2nd grade using SIPPS for tier 1 instruction
Sequential (SP 90-10 students) in 2nd grade using SIPPS for tier 1 instruction
Simultaenous & Sequential (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 authorized to use UFLI for Tier 2
Newcomers
Kindergarten until December
Students in Mild-mod or extensive support Special Ed classes.
How do I determine SIPPS Placements?
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.
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?
Literacy Tier Selection 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.
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 Progress Monitoring Tier Data Wall - 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 in 2026-27:
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
Tier 2 Grade 3-5 student completed SIPPS Challenge 4A/5A, 4B/5B, 4C/5C this year
Tier Grade 2 student completed SIPPS Challenge 4A or 5A this year
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.
Tier 1 SEI Kinders January-May (Tier 1 = at/above DIBELS Composite.)
Instructions for adding a Second SIPPS Placement (if you need to update during the school year)
Instructions for adding a Second SIPPS Placement (if you need to update during the school year)
Extension Mastery Tests
Extension Review Mastery Tests
See more reports on Data Reports
See Data Reports - SIPPS for a full list of SIPPS dashboards
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
View all of your schools SIPPS groups and SIPPS Groups permissions on this OUSD dashboard: SIPPS Groups
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
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