Reading Difficulties Risk Screener (RDRS)

In accordance with California Education Code Section 53008, all California local education agencies (LEAs) are required to assess students from kindergarten to grade two for risk of reading difficulties with a screener from a CA Department of Education (CDE)-approved list beginning no later than the 2025-26 school year.

On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, the RBUSD Multitiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Committee presented their selection of UCSF Multitudes to the Board of Education. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, K-2 students will be given the Multitudes screener once per year.

You may learn more about the adopted reading screener by visiting the CDE Multitudes Overview website.

What is a Reading Difficulties Risk Screener?

What is assessed during a Reading Screener?

When will the Reading Screener be administered this school year?

For the 2025-26 school year, Grades K, 1, and 2 students will be assessed during the months of February/March.

Parents will be notified in advance of the screening window. Parents can opt their child out of the Reading Screener by completing this Opt-Out form.

If your student is enrolled after the start of the school year, he or she will be assessed within 45 calendar days of enrollment.

When will the Reading Screener results be shared with families and caregivers?

What are activities I can do at home with my child to support reading?

What if a parent/caregiver wants to opt their student out of the screener?

Students may be exempted from the screener with prior written consent of the parent or guardian if any of the following criteria are satisfied:

The student has a current identification or diagnosis of a reading difficulty, reading disorder, or other disability.
The student is eligible for special education and related services pursuant to IDEA or a plan pursuant to Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the student is being evaluated with diagnostic assessments that make screening pursuant to this Reading Screener redundant.
The student is in the process of being assessed for eligibility for special education and related services pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or a plan pursuant to Section 504, and the pupil is being evaluated with diagnostic assessments that make the pupil's assessment or evaluation using the screening instrument(s) redundant. EC 53008(i)

To opt your student out of the screener, please complete this Opt-Out form.

What happens if a student is identified as being at risk of having reading difficulties after being screened?

Additional questions?

Consult the FAQ posted on the California Department of Education website.
Read the overview of SB114 for details.
Read Ed Code 53008 for details.

Reading Difficulties Risk Screener/Multitudes Parent Information Webinar

RBUSD Educational Services held a virtual information webinar on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. for parents/caregivers to learn about the new Reading Difficulties Risk Screener (RDRS), Multitudes. Please see the recording below.

Parents may submit questions HERE and responses will be shared online.