This school year has brought with it some important changes for universal screening (the dyslexia screener) based on the changes in the new law (Kansas HB2485) passed spring of 2026. Below are the changes that impact this current school year and a couple of updates for future planning. 

For the 2026-2027 school year:

• Schools can use the approved screener they have been using. You do not need to acquire a new screening tool for this year. While you screen three times a year, reporting for this year will be fall and spring. 

• This law requires additional grade levels data reported to KSDE.  This year, you report for PK, K, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9th grade. For Pre-K students, you are only reporting for 4 year olds. For this year, if you are using MyIGDIs or FastBridge, you will provide screening results. If you have not been screening preschool students, you will mark not assessed and will start screening next year with the new statewide universal screener which will include preschool to align with the law. For 9th graders who screen with no risk, you do not need to continue screening beyond fall of 9th grade unless concerns arise.  

• When reporting this year, you do not need to break apart rate and accuracy for grades 2 and 3 and you do not report on the specific subskill as in the past. You use the composite score (see your technical manual or contact your vendor) and from that composite score, report one of three levels of risk (high risk, some risk, at or above benchmark-or the wording your screener uses for these levels of risk).

For the 2027-2028 school year:

• As required in Kansas HB 2425, starting in the fall of 2027, all systems will use a “single statewide universal screener." A Request For Proposal (RFP) has been sent out to initiate the process to select the screener and negotiate a competitive statewide price for systems (there was no fiscal note for this requirement). KSDE hopes to have that screener determined and approved by January 1st to allow for professional learning and preparation for implementation to occur before the 2027-2028 school year. Within the law, it notes that a student in grades K-3 who is not already on an IEP with a reading goal, and who screens at high risk on the universal screener is provided an individualized literacy plan. According to the law, KSDE will provide the template for the plan and guidance for systems. A DRAFT template will be provided mid-September for review- use if you choose and provide feedback prior to finalization spring of 2027 to prepare for implementation fall of 2027. Students who are provided a plan should receive a minimum of 90 minutes of targeted and tiered interventions weekly (individualized or small group instruction). 

• In addition, please look for the DRAFT of the Individualized Learning Plan (KILP) template and a DRAFT of the KILP Guidance Document in the Early Literacy newsletter from Dr. Laurie Curtics in September and in KSDE Weekly.  She will also share a feedback form at this time as well.

KSDE has received approval from the U.S. Department of Education to pilot a new approach to statewide assessment and accountability through the Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA). The Kansas Through-Year Curriculum-Directed Assessment will allow students in participating districts to complete brief, rigorous assessments each quarter rather than taking a single summative assessment in the spring.

The goal is to provide student results within 72 hours after each assessment window closes, giving educators timely information to identify strengths, address learning needs, and adjust instruction while there is still time to improve student outcomes throughout the school year. The assessments will remain aligned with the Kansas  Standards and will serve both instructional and accountability purposes. Performance across the quarterly assessments will be used to establish an annual determination of student performance for state accountability.

The pilot is planned for five years. Six Kansas school districts will begin implementing the Kansas Through-Year Curriculum-Directed Assessment during the 2026–2027 school year while continuing to meet federal assessment and accountability requirements.