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The start of a new year is a crucial time to assess students’ reading development. Many schools use mid-year screening to take stock of progress and ensure support is on track. For families, screening results can offer insight into a child’s growth since the Fall. For educators, these results help guide instruction, identify students who may need additional support, and monitor progress over time.

Screening for Reading Risk: What Is It and Why Is It Important?

Learn what screening is, why it’s vital for early learning, and how it helps schools and families better support young readers. Read more

Understanding Screening: Overall Screening and Assessment

Find out how screening helps identify students at risk for reading difficulties and how families can partner with schools to support their child’s reading success. Read more

4 Questions to Ask After Universal Screening for Dyslexia

Screening for dyslexia risk is most effective when it's part of a decision-making framework that answers four fundamental questions. Read more

Pre-K Reading Assessment

Our Pre-K Reading Assessment is an interactive experience designed to help adults understand the early reading and language skills of their pre-kindergarten students. Access it here

The Adolescent Assessment of Literacy (AAL)

Our computer-adaptive screening tool is designed to measure reading and language skills that are critical for grades 3-12 students’ overall literacy development. Access it here

Benchmark Effectiveness & Actionable Core Outcomes Navigator (BEACON)

Our BEACON app calculates easy-to-understand indices that show the effectiveness of core instruction and interventions across classrooms, grades, and even schools. Access it here

More Free Screening and Assessment Resources

Where to Find Us This Winter

We’re heading out on the road and would love to connect in person. If you’re attending one of the conferences below, stop by and say hello!

National ESEA Conference

📅 February 10–12, 2026

📍 Denver, CO

🎤 Session: Bridging the Divide: Uniting General and Special Education for Students with Dyslexia on February 12 at 3 pm MST

NCIL Presenters: Sarah Sayko, Ed.D, Interim Director and Kristin Kane, Deputy Director and Leader, Family Engagement Strand

🧭 Visit us at Booth #128

🔗 https://www.eseanetwork.org/conference

2026 The Reading League-VA In-Person Conference From Decoding to Deep Comprehension

📅 February 12, 2026

📍 Manassas, VA

🎤 Session: Implementing Structured Literacy for Adolescents: Grades 6 – 12

NCIL Presenters: Dr. Mary Stowe, NCIL Consultant

🔗 https://va.thereadingleague.org/event/2026-trl-va-in-person-conference-from-decoding-to-deep-comprehension/

For Families

For Educators and State Education Agencies

About NCIL

The research reported here is funded by a grant to the National Center on Improving Literacy from the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, in partnership with the Office of Special Education Programs (Award #: H283D210004). The opinions or policies expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of OESE, OSEP, or the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal government. Copyright © 2024 National Center on Improving Literacy.

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