New Requirements for the 2025-2026 School Year
In August 2024, Governor Phil Murphy signed P.L. 2024, c.52 into law, reinforcing the State’s commitment to improving literacy outcomes for students. This legislation builds on recent revisions to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS), dyslexia legislation, and the New Jersey Tiered System of Supports (NJTSS), initiating a broader effort to refine instructional literacy practices based on robust research in reading and learning.
The legislation establishes a comprehensive plan to ensure that young learners benefit from evidence-based literacy instruction by requiring districts to:
- Administer literacy screeners twice a year for students grades Kindergarten through grade third (K–3).
- Lincoln and Lenox Elementary Schools are using Amplify Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS8) as the universal screener for K-3 students.
- Provide support for students consistent with NJTSS and Intervention and Referral Services.
- Provide parents/guardians with results and resources.
- After the mid-year and end-of-year screening periods, parents/guardians will receive the mClass DIBELS 8 Home Connect Family Report and corresponding online resources to practice and reinforce important literacy skills with their children.
- Report screening data to the NJDOE.
- Provide professional development to preschool through grade six staff including:
- Library media specialists
- Professionals who support multilingual learners (MLs) and students with disabilities
- Reading interventionists
- Speech-language specialists
In addition to the above screening process, our teachers utilize a variety of other assessment data from the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) toolbox in Grade 1-5, iReady Diagnostics (Grade 3-5), and classroom activities in order to inform instruction to support all learners.
Should you have any questions related to this process, please contact our Language Arts Supervisor, Dr. Stephen Tarsitano, starsitano@plps.org.