What is mCLASS?
mCLASS is a best-in-class assessment platform that houses a suite of proven, gold-standard assessment measures and tools that can be flexibly combined to meet the unique literacy needs of both teachers and students across grades K–6, including:
- Universal screening
- Diagnostic assessment
- Dyslexia screening
- Text Reading and Comprehension (a.k.a. running records via mCLASS: Reading 3D)
- Progress monitoring
- Dual language reporting
- Targeted teacher-led instruction
What is the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment?
Developed by the University of Oregon, the DIBELS 8th Edition is the latest version of the DIBELS® (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessment.
With this latest version, the University of Oregon Center on Teaching and Learning (UO CTL) made significant efforts to ensure measures would meet state-level screening requirements for universal screening, diagnostic assessment, and dyslexia screening. To support this, measures were updated based on the latest research to meet increased standards of reliability and validity. In addition, adaptive procedures and discontinue rules focus on the assessment of priority skills and prevent over-testing.
Summary of changes:
- Consistent measures within grades will provide improved growth measurement.
- All subtests have been revised to be grade-specific and to increase in difficulty, covering a full progression of skills and minimizing floor and ceiling effects. This provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate what they know and further pinpoint what they don’t know.
- Phoneme Segmentation Fluency replaces First Sound Fluency. The expanded coverage minimizes floor effect and provides information about difficulty in Phonemic Awareness skills without the additional First Sound Fluency measure.
- A new subtest, Word Reading Fluency, helps identify students with poor sight word reading skills that other subtests miss.
- For all measures, the basic scoring procedures remain the same. For Nonsense Word Fluency, credit is given for recording words as whole words even if the student misses in the first attempt.
- Oral Reading Fluency is now only one passage, instead of three. Retell has been removed. Thus, Oral Reading Fluency assessment will take a third of the time.
Assessment measures by grade
| DIBELS measures at each grade level | |||||
| Measure | Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grades 4–6 |
| Letter naming fluency | |||||
| Phonemic segmentation fluency | |||||
| Nonsense word fluency | |||||
| Word reading fluency | |||||
| Oral reading fluency | |||||
| Maze (basic comprehension) | |||||
| Amplify measures at each grade level | |||||
| Oral language | |||||
| Vocabulary | |||||
Assessment measures sample videos
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Phonemic Segmentation Fluency (PSF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Nonsense Word Fluency (NWF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Letter Naming Fluency (LNF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Word Reading Fluency (WRF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Oral Reading Fluency (ORF)
What makes mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition different?
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition combines the power of the mCLASS assessment platform and the effectiveness of the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment measures. As a result – educators are empowered with the latest and greatest assessment tool.
More than a test, mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition is an integrated system that closes the knowing-doing gap by helping teachers take immediate instructional action that’s right for each and every student.
Assessment systems must enable and compel educators to answer not just the “What” questions, but also the “So What” and “Now What” questions. These are the questions that are essential in transforming classroom instruction, and the questions that mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition helps teachers answer with confidence.
What makes mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition different?
- It gives teachers access to the latest digital version of the DIBELS assessment. Amplify is the only licensed provider of the digital DIBELS 8th Edition assessment. As such, our solution is the only one to enhance the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment with the power, reliability, and quickness of the mCLASS system.
- It makes it faster and easier to understand where every student is in their early literacy journey. By combining 1:1 observational diagnostic assessments, dyslexia screening, progress monitoring, instant scoring, rigorous reporting, automatic student grouping, and targeted instruction all in one place, it reduces the instructional delays associated with manual scoring, manual data analysis, and manual lesson planning.
- It makes every instructional minute count. In addition to one-minute measures that quickly gauge student progress toward reading proficiency, it leverages a teacher’s most powerful instructional tool — their own 1:1 observations.
- It drives growth more efficiently. Rather than relying on broad composite scores alone, granular data and in-depth insights for every student help teachers pinpoint exact skill gaps and areas of unfinished learning, making whole-group, small-group, and 1:1 instruction more targeted and effective.
- It saves teachers time. Instant reports, automatic student groups, and ready-to-teach lessons mean teachers spend less time cobbling together materials and more time working directly with students and responding to their needs.
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition support screening for dyslexia risk?
DIBELS 8th Edition measures have been updated based on the latest research. They now offer stronger measures of processing speed, phonological awareness, and alphabetic principles for dyslexia screening purposes.
To support this, a new subtest in Word Reading Fluency was introduced and revisions were made to Letter Naming Fluency, Phonemic Segmentation Fluency, and Nonsense Fluency subtests to improve their ability to screen for deficits commonly associated with dyslexia risk, such as phonological awareness, rapid naming ability, and alphabetic principle. These measures provide early warning signs for neurological processing difficulties that contribute to risk for dyslexia (Wolf & Bowers, 1999; Denckla & Rudel, 1974).
Moreover, measures in Oral Language and Vocabulary are included to provide additional information to help evaluate additional risk areas associated with dyslexia risk.
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition support the use of running records?
Track your students’ reading progress from every angle with the Text Reading and Comprehension (TRC) assessment. When TRC is paired with the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment, classroom teachers unlock the ability to record reading behaviors through running digital records. Available in English and Spanish, it measures reading comprehension and provides insight into how each student finds meaning in text.

Measures include:
- Lesson plans for whole class, small-group, and one-on-one instruction.
- Small-group advisor, which organizes students into groups based on strengths and gaps.
- Item-level advisor, which drills deep into student responses to uncover patterns, strengths, and gaps.
- Instructional resources for each student’s parent/guardian(s).
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition turn data into instant action?
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition gives you instant results and clear next steps for each student.
Quick and actionable reports provide detailed insight into students’ reading development across foundational literacy skills for teachers, specialists, administrators, and caregivers.

Diagnostic assessment
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition analyzes individual student response data through a proprietary scoring algorithm that pinpoints a student’s specific area(s) of growth and improvement, providing classroom teachers in-depth insight into a students’ instructional needs.
Ready-to-teach instruction
Immediately following the analysis of individual student responses, mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition provides an in-depth diagnostic report complete with suggested next steps, also known as “mCLASS Instruction.”
mCLASS Instruction evaluates each student’s responses on each individual subtest and instantly:
- Provides a list of specific needs by student, such as struggling with medial vowel sounds or difficulty reading words with consonant blends.
- Groups students automatically based on similar discrete skill needs, not simply composite scores like other assessment tools.
- Recommends a variety of ready-to-teach lessons that specifically target each individual student’s areas of need or common areas of need for small-group instruction.
Classroom skill and benchmark summary
The Classroom Skill Summary report is a dashboard showing benchmark performance on each skill. Teachers can use it to determine which skill areas need instructional focus at a classroom level.
The Classroom Benchmark Summary report is a classroom-wide view of overall reading performance. Teachers can use this report to determine if composite scores improved, declined, or remained the same each semester.
Detailed benchmark performance
Teachers can see each student’s performance during the current school year, on each subtest as well as the overall composite. The benchmark goal displays below the subtest name when applicable. The ability to sort the columns in this report gives teachers more flexibility to analyze data the way they prefer.
Dyslexia screening
Identify students who are at risk for reading difficulties, including dyslexia, based on their results from foundational skills measures and additional measures as needed by local policies.
Progress monitoring summary
See which subtests have been assessed since the most recent benchmark assessment, how students performed on the three most recent progress monitoring assessments for each measure, and which students have not been progress monitored since the benchmark assessment.
Goal setting tool
The Zones of Growth (ZoG) analysis uses a rich set of national data to determine student goals for the next benchmark period. Teachers can use the Goal Setting Tool to view these recommended goals or modify the default goals for individual students as they see fit, if the default goal is too challenging or not challenging enough.
Growth outcomes
Teachers and interventionists can see each student’s actual growth achieved and how it compares to the goal that was set for the student.
Caregiver supports
The mCLASS Home Connect website houses literacy resources for parents and caregivers, including at-home lessons organized by skill. Our mCLASS parent/caregiver letters in English and Spanish ensure that families know how to best support their child.

Self-guided tour
Our self-guided tour is a great way to orient yourself to the organization of our mCLASS platform. Click the button below to get started.

Demo access
Follow the instructions below to login to your demo account.
- Click the mCLASS Demo button below.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter the username: d8demoD
- Enter the password: 1234
- Click the Reading tile.
Once you are logged in:
- Find the Class/Group dropdown field and select Grade 1.
- Right above the Class Summary, click Beginning of Year or Middle of Year and explore the data.
- Scroll down to the class list. Each column within the class list is sortable by clicking the double arrow in the column header.
- Click on any score to see the measure transcript.
- Click on a student’s name to see historical data and progress monitoring graphs.
After exploring the Benchmark tab in the purple bar:
- Click on the Instruction tab.
- If you don’t see groups, click Updated recommendations.
- Explore freely! The Groups, Students, and All Activities tabs have rich information.
- Click the Progress tab.
- Click on Home Connect to see a sample of our caregiver letters.
What is mCLASS?
mCLASS is a best-in-class assessment platform that houses a suite of proven, gold-standard assessment measures and tools that can be flexibly combined to meet the unique literacy needs of both teachers and students across grades K–6, including:
- Universal screening
- Diagnostic assessment
- Dyslexia screening
- Progress monitoring
- Dual language reporting
- Targeted teacher-led instruction
What is the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment?
Developed by the University of Oregon, the DIBELS 8th Edition is the latest version of the DIBELS® (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessment.
With this latest version, the University of Oregon Center on Teaching and Learning (UO CTL) made significant efforts to ensure measures would meet state-level screening requirements for universal screening, diagnostic assessment, and dyslexia screening. To support this, measures were updated based on the latest research to meet increased standards of reliability and validity. In addition, adaptive procedures and discontinue rules focus on the assessment of priority skills and prevent over-testing.
Summary of changes:
- Consistent measures within grades will provide improved growth measurement.
- All subtests have been revised to be grade-specific and to increase in difficulty, covering a full progression of skills and minimizing floor and ceiling effects. This provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate what they know and further pinpoint what they don’t know.
- Phoneme Segmentation Fluency replaces First Sound Fluency. The expanded coverage minimizes floor effect and provides information about difficulty in Phonemic Awareness skills without the additional First Sound Fluency measure.
- A new subtest, Word Reading Fluency, helps identify students with poor sight word reading skills that other subtests miss.
- For all measures, the basic scoring procedures remain the same. For Nonsense Word Fluency, credit is given for recording words as whole words even if the student misses in the first attempt.
- Oral Reading Fluency is now only one passage, instead of three. Retell has been removed. Thus, Oral Reading Fluency assessment will take a third of the time.
Assessment measures by grade
| DIBELS measures at each grade level | ||||
| Measure | Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 |
| Letter naming fluency | ||||
| Phonemic segmentation fluency | ||||
| Nonsense word fluency | ||||
| Word reading fluency | ||||
| Oral reading fluency | ||||
| Maze (basic comprehension) | ||||
| Amplify measures at each grade level | ||||
| Oral language | ||||
| Vocabulary | ||||
Assessment measures sample videos
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Phonemic Segmentation Fluency (PSF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Nonsense Word Fluency (NWF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Letter Naming Fluency (LNF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Word Reading Fluency (WRF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Oral Reading Fluency (ORF)
How is mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition different?
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition combines the power of the mCLASS assessment platform and the effectiveness of the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment measures. As a result – educators across the state are empowered with the latest and greatest assessment tool.
More than a test, mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition is an integrated system that closes the knowing-doing gap by helping teachers take immediate instructional action that’s right for each and every student.
Assessment systems must enable and compel educators to answer not just the “What” questions, but also the “So What” and “Now What” questions. These are the questions that are essential in transforming classroom instruction, and the questions that mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition helps teachers answer with confidence.
How is mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition different?
- It gives teachers access to the latest digital version of the DIBELS assessment. Amplify is the only licensed provider of the digital DIBELS 8th Edition assessment. As such, our solution is the only one to enhance the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment with the power, reliability, and quickness of the mCLASS system.
- It makes it faster and easier to understand where every student is in their early literacy journey. By combining 1:1 observational diagnostic assessments, dyslexia screening, progress monitoring, instant scoring, rigorous reporting, automatic student grouping, and targeted instruction all in one place, it reduces the instructional delays associated with manual scoring, manual data analysis, and manual lesson planning.
- It brings more equity to the classroom. When used in conjunction with mCLASS Lectura, teachers have access to dual language reports that highlight a student’s strengths and weaknesses in both English and Spanish.
- It makes every instructional minute count. In addition to one-minute measures that quickly gauge student progress toward reading proficiency, it leverages a teacher’s most powerful instructional tool — their own 1:1 observations.
- It drives growth more efficiently. Rather than relying on broad composite scores alone, granular data and in-depth insights for every student help teachers pinpoint exact skill gaps and areas of unfinished learning, making whole-group, small-group, and 1:1 instruction more targeted and effective.
- It saves teachers time. Instant reports, automatic student groups, and ready-to-teach lessons mean teachers spend less time cobbling together materials and more time working directly with students and responding to their needs.
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition support screening for dyslexia risk?
DIBELS 8th Edition measures have been updated based on the latest research. They now offer stronger measures of processing speed, phonological awareness, and alphabetic principles for dyslexia screening purposes.
To support this, a new subtest in Word Reading Fluency was introduced and revisions were made to Letter Naming Fluency, Phonemic Segmentation Fluency, and Nonsense Fluency subtests to improve their ability to screen for deficits commonly associated with dyslexia risk, such as phonological awareness, rapid naming ability, and alphabetic principle. These measures provide early warning signs for neurological processing difficulties that contribute to risk for dyslexia (Wolf & Bowers, 1999; Denckla & Rudel, 1974).
Moreover, measures in Oral Language and Vocabulary are included to provide additional information to help evaluate additional risk areas associated with dyslexia risk.
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition turn data into instant action?
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition gives you instant results and clear next steps for each student.
Quick and actionable reports provide detailed insight into students’ reading development across foundational literacy skills for teachers, specialists, administrators, and caregivers.

Diagnostic assessment
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition analyzes individual student response data through a scoring algorithm which aligns to the Colorado Department of Education’s stated purpose of a diagnostic assessment.
Our innovative approach to diagnostic assessment leverages an item-level evaluation of individual student responses in order to provide deeper insights into specific student weaknesses and areas of improvement. mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition analyzes individual student response data through a scoring algorithm which aligns to the Colorado Department of Education’s stated purpose of a diagnostic: “… to pinpoint a student’s specific area(s) of weakness and provide in-depth information about students’ skills and instructional needs.”
Ready-to-teach instruction
Immediately following the analysis of individual student responses, mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition provides an in-depth diagnostic report complete with suggested next steps, also known as “mCLASS Instruction.”
mCLASS Instruction evaluates each student’s responses on each individual subtest and instantly:
- Provides a list of specific needs by student, such as struggling with medial vowel sounds or difficulty reading words with consonant blends.
- Groups students automatically based on similar discrete skill needs, not simply composite scores like other assessment tools.
- Recommends a variety of ready-to-teach lessons that specifically target each individual student’s areas of need or common areas of need for small-group instruction.
Classroom skill and benchmark summary
The Classroom Skill Summary report is a dashboard showing benchmark performance on each skill. Teachers can use it to determine which skill areas need instructional focus at a classroom level.
The Classroom Benchmark Summary report is a classroom-wide view of overall reading performance. Teachers can use this report to determine if composite scores improved, declined, or remained the same each semester.
Detailed benchmark performance
Teachers can see each student’s performance during the current school year, on each subtest as well as the overall composite. The benchmark goal displays below the subtest name when applicable. The ability to sort the columns in this report gives teachers more flexibility to analyze data the way they prefer.
Dyslexia screening
Identify students who are at risk for reading difficulties, including dyslexia, based on their results from foundational skills measures and additional measures as needed by local policies.
Progress monitoring summary
See which subtests have been assessed since the most recent benchmark assessment, how students performed on the three most recent progress monitoring assessments for each measure, and which students have not been progress monitored since the benchmark assessment.
Goal setting tool
The Zones of Growth (ZoG) analysis uses a rich set of national data to determine student goals for the next benchmark period. Teachers can use the Goal Setting Tool to view these recommended goals or modify the default goals for individual students as they see fit, if the default goal is too challenging or not challenging enough.
Growth outcomes
Teachers and interventionists can see each student’s actual growth achieved and how it compares to the goal that was set for the student.
Colorado READ Plans
Amplify recommends that a student who is categorized by the DIBELS 8th Edition composite score as “At High Risk” (denoted in all reports as “red”) be considered as potentially having a “Significant Reading Deficiency,” then further diagnosed using mCLASS’ Instruction diagnostics.
When devising a READ Plan, teachers and instructional staff should first consider students at high risk on DIBELS 8th Edition as potentially having a “Significant Reading Deficiency,” and eligible for a READ Plan. Students are then further diagnosed using mCLASS’ Instruction diagnostics. When devising a READ Plan, teachers can rely on the relevant mCLASS Instruction and Reports to comply with the READ Act.
Caregiver supports
The mCLASS Home Connect website houses literacy resources for parents and caregivers, including at-home lessons organized by skill. Our mCLASS parent/caregiver letters in English and Spanish ensure that families know how to best support their child.

Explore our self-guided tour
Our self-guided tour is a great way to orient yourself to the organization of our mCLASS platform. Click the button below to get started.

Contact us
Looking to speak directly with your Colorado representative? Get in touch with a team member by emailing HelloColorado@amplify.com or by calling us directly.
| Enrollment over 2,500 students | Enrollment under 2,500 students |


| Monty LammersSenior Account Executive(719) 964-4501mlammers@amplify.com | Vanessa ScottAccount Executive(602) 690-9216vscott@amplify.com |
What is mCLASS?
mCLASS is a best-in-class assessment platform that houses a suite of proven, gold-standard assessment measures and tools that can be flexibly combined to meet the unique literacy needs of both teachers and students across grades K–6, including:
- Universal screening
- Diagnostic assessment
- Dyslexia screening
- Text Reading and Comprehension (a.k.a. running records via mCLASS: Reading 3D)
- Progress monitoring
- Dual language reporting
- Targeted teacher-led instruction
What is the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment?
Developed by the University of Oregon, the DIBELS 8th Edition is the latest version of the DIBELS® (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessment.
With this latest version, the University of Oregon Center on Teaching and Learning (UO CTL) made significant efforts to ensure measures would meet state-level screening requirements for universal screening, diagnostic assessment, and dyslexia screening. To support this, measures were updated based on the latest research to meet increased standards of reliability and validity. In addition, adaptive procedures and discontinue rules focus on the assessment of priority skills and prevent over-testing.
Summary of changes:
- Consistent measures within grades will provide improved growth measurement.
- All subtests have been revised to be grade-specific and to increase in difficulty, covering a full progression of skills and minimizing floor and ceiling effects. This provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate what they know and further pinpoint what they don’t know.
- Phoneme Segmentation Fluency replaces First Sound Fluency. The expanded coverage minimizes floor effect and provides information about difficulty in Phonemic Awareness skills without the additional First Sound Fluency measure.
- A new subtest, Word Reading Fluency, helps identify students with poor sight word reading skills that other subtests miss.
- For all measures, the basic scoring procedures remain the same. For Nonsense Word Fluency, credit is given for recording words as whole words even if the student misses in the first attempt.
- Oral Reading Fluency is now only one passage, instead of three. Retell has been removed. Thus, Oral Reading Fluency assessment will take a third of the time.
Assessment measures by grade
| DIBELS measures at each grade level | |||||
| Measure | Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grades 4–6 |
| Letter naming fluency | |||||
| Phonemic segmentation fluency | |||||
| Nonsense word fluency | |||||
| Word reading fluency | |||||
| Oral reading fluency | |||||
| Maze (basic comprehension) | |||||
| Amplify measures at each grade level | |||||
| Oral language | |||||
| Vocabulary | |||||
Assessment measures sample videos
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Phonemic Segmentation Fluency (PSF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Nonsense Word Fluency (NWF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Letter Naming Fluency (LNF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Word Reading Fluency (WRF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Oral Reading Fluency (ORF)
What makes mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition different?
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition combines the power of the mCLASS assessment platform and the effectiveness of the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment measures. As a result – educators are empowered with the latest and greatest assessment tool.
More than a test, mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition is an integrated system that closes the knowing-doing gap by helping teachers take immediate instructional action that’s right for each and every student.
Assessment systems must enable and compel educators to answer not just the “What” questions, but also the “So What” and “Now What” questions. These are the questions that are essential in transforming classroom instruction, and the questions that mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition helps teachers answer with confidence.
What makes mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition different?
- It gives teachers access to the latest digital version of the DIBELS assessment. Amplify is the only licensed provider of the digital DIBELS 8th Edition assessment. As such, our solution is the only one to enhance the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment with the power, reliability, and quickness of the mCLASS system.
- It makes it faster and easier to understand where every student is in their early literacy journey. By combining 1:1 observational diagnostic assessments, dyslexia screening, progress monitoring, instant scoring, rigorous reporting, automatic student grouping, and targeted instruction all in one place, it reduces the instructional delays associated with manual scoring, manual data analysis, and manual lesson planning.
- It brings more equity to the classroom. When used in conjunction with mCLASS Lectura, teachers have access to dual language reports that highlight a student’s strengths and weaknesses in both English and Spanish.
- It makes every instructional minute count. In addition to one-minute measures that quickly gauge student progress toward reading proficiency, it leverages a teacher’s most powerful instructional tool — their own 1:1 observations.
- It drives growth more efficiently. Rather than relying on broad composite scores alone, granular data and in-depth insights for every student help teachers pinpoint exact skill gaps and areas of unfinished learning, making whole-group, small-group, and 1:1 instruction more targeted and effective.
- It saves teachers time. Instant reports, automatic student groups, and ready-to-teach lessons mean teachers spend less time cobbling together materials and more time working directly with students and responding to their needs.
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition support screening for dyslexia risk?
DIBELS 8th Edition measures have been updated based on the latest research. They now offer stronger measures of processing speed, phonological awareness, and alphabetic principles for dyslexia screening purposes.
To support this, a new subtest in Word Reading Fluency was introduced and revisions were made to Letter Naming Fluency, Phonemic Segmentation Fluency, and Nonsense Fluency subtests to improve their ability to screen for deficits commonly associated with dyslexia risk, such as phonological awareness, rapid naming ability, and alphabetic principle. These measures provide early warning signs for neurological processing difficulties that contribute to risk for dyslexia (Wolf & Bowers, 1999; Denckla & Rudel, 1974).
Moreover, measures in Oral Language and Vocabulary are included to provide additional information to help evaluate additional risk areas associated with dyslexia risk.
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition support the use of running records?
Track your students’ reading progress from every angle with the Text Reading and Comprehension (TRC) assessment. When TRC is paired with the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment, classroom teachers unlock the ability to record reading behaviors through running digital records. Available in English and Spanish, it measures reading comprehension and provides insight into how each student finds meaning in text.

Measures include:
- Lesson plans for whole class, small-group, and one-on-one instruction.
- Small-group advisor, which organizes students into groups based on strengths and gaps.
- Item-level advisor, which drills deep into student responses to uncover patterns, strengths, and gaps.
- Instructional resources for each student’s parent/guardian(s).
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition turn data into instant action?
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition gives you instant results and clear next steps for each student.
Quick and actionable reports provide detailed insight into students’ reading development across foundational literacy skills for teachers, specialists, administrators, and caregivers.

Diagnostic assessment
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition analyzes individual student response data through a proprietary scoring algorithm that pinpoints a student’s specific area(s) of growth and improvement, providing classroom teachers in-depth insight into a students’ instructional needs.
Ready-to-teach instruction
Immediately following the analysis of individual student responses, mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition provides an in-depth diagnostic report complete with suggested next steps, also known as “mCLASS Instruction.”
mCLASS Instruction evaluates each student’s responses on each individual subtest and instantly:
- Provides a list of specific needs by student, such as struggling with medial vowel sounds or difficulty reading words with consonant blends.
- Groups students automatically based on similar discrete skill needs, not simply composite scores like other assessment tools.
- Recommends a variety of ready-to-teach lessons that specifically target each individual student’s areas of need or common areas of need for small-group instruction.
Classroom skill and benchmark summary
The Classroom Skill Summary report is a dashboard showing benchmark performance on each skill. Teachers can use it to determine which skill areas need instructional focus at a classroom level.
The Classroom Benchmark Summary report is a classroom-wide view of overall reading performance. Teachers can use this report to determine if composite scores improved, declined, or remained the same each semester.
Detailed benchmark performance
Teachers can see each student’s performance during the current school year, on each subtest as well as the overall composite. The benchmark goal displays below the subtest name when applicable. The ability to sort the columns in this report gives teachers more flexibility to analyze data the way they prefer.
Dyslexia screening
Identify students who are at risk for reading difficulties, including dyslexia, based on their results from foundational skills measures and additional measures as needed by local policies.
Progress monitoring summary
See which subtests have been assessed since the most recent benchmark assessment, how students performed on the three most recent progress monitoring assessments for each measure, and which students have not been progress monitored since the benchmark assessment.
Goal setting tool
The Zones of Growth (ZoG) analysis uses a rich set of national data to determine student goals for the next benchmark period. Teachers can use the Goal Setting Tool to view these recommended goals or modify the default goals for individual students as they see fit, if the default goal is too challenging or not challenging enough.
Growth outcomes
Teachers and interventionists can see each student’s actual growth achieved and how it compares to the goal that was set for the student.
Caregiver supports
The mCLASS Home Connect website houses literacy resources for parents and caregivers, including at-home lessons organized by skill. Our mCLASS parent/caregiver letters in English and Spanish ensure that families know how to best support their child.

What is mCLASS?
mCLASS is a best-in-class assessment platform that houses a suite of proven, gold-standard assessment measures and tools that can be flexibly combined to meet the unique literacy needs of both teachers and students across grades K–6, including:
- Universal screening
- Diagnostic assessment
- Dyslexia screening
- Text Reading and Comprehension (a.k.a. running records via mCLASS: Reading 3D)
- Progress monitoring
- Dual language reporting
- Targeted teacher-led instruction
What is the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment?
Developed by the University of Oregon, the DIBELS 8th Edition is the latest version of the DIBELS® (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessment.
With this latest version, the University of Oregon Center on Teaching and Learning (UO CTL) made significant efforts to ensure measures would meet state-level screening requirements for universal screening, diagnostic assessment, and dyslexia screening. To support this, measures were updated based on the latest research to meet increased standards of reliability and validity. In addition, adaptive procedures and discontinue rules focus on the assessment of priority skills and prevent over-testing.
Summary of changes:
- Consistent measures within grades will provide improved growth measurement.
- All subtests have been revised to be grade-specific and to increase in difficulty, covering a full progression of skills and minimizing floor and ceiling effects. This provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate what they know and further pinpoint what they don’t know.
- Phoneme Segmentation Fluency replaces First Sound Fluency. The expanded coverage minimizes floor effect and provides information about difficulty in Phonemic Awareness skills without the additional First Sound Fluency measure.
- A new subtest, Word Reading Fluency, helps identify students with poor sight word reading skills that other subtests miss.
- For all measures, the basic scoring procedures remain the same. For Nonsense Word Fluency, credit is given for recording words as whole words even if the student misses in the first attempt.
- Oral Reading Fluency is now only one passage, instead of three. Retell has been removed. Thus, Oral Reading Fluency assessment will take a third of the time.
Assessment measures by grade
| DIBELS measures at each grade level | |||||
| Measure | Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grades 4–6 |
| Letter naming fluency | |||||
| Phonemic segmentation fluency | |||||
| Nonsense word fluency | |||||
| Word reading fluency | |||||
| Oral reading fluency | |||||
| Maze (basic comprehension) | |||||
| Amplify measures at each grade level | |||||
| Oral language | |||||
| Vocabulary | |||||
Assessment measures sample videos
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Phonemic Segmentation Fluency (PSF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Nonsense Word Fluency (NWF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Letter Naming Fluency (LNF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Word Reading Fluency (WRF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Oral Reading Fluency (ORF)
What makes mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition different?
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition combines the power of the mCLASS assessment platform and the effectiveness of the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment measures. As a result – educators are empowered with the latest and greatest assessment tool.
More than a test, mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition is an integrated system that closes the knowing-doing gap by helping teachers take immediate instructional action that’s right for each and every student.
Assessment systems must enable and compel educators to answer not just the “What” questions, but also the “So What” and “Now What” questions. These are the questions that are essential in transforming classroom instruction, and the questions that mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition helps teachers answer with confidence.
What makes mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition different?
- It gives teachers access to the latest digital version of the DIBELS assessment. Amplify is the only licensed provider of the digital DIBELS 8th Edition assessment. As such, our solution is the only one to enhance the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment with the power, reliability, and quickness of the mCLASS system.
- It makes it faster and easier to understand where every student is in their early literacy journey. By combining 1:1 observational diagnostic assessments, dyslexia screening, progress monitoring, instant scoring, rigorous reporting, automatic student grouping, and targeted instruction all in one place, it reduces the instructional delays associated with manual scoring, manual data analysis, and manual lesson planning.
- It brings more equity to the classroom. When used in conjunction with mCLASS Lectura, teachers have access to dual language reports that highlight a student’s strengths and weaknesses in both English and Spanish.
- It makes every instructional minute count. In addition to one-minute measures that quickly gauge student progress toward reading proficiency, it leverages a teacher’s most powerful instructional tool — their own 1:1 observations.
- It drives growth more efficiently. Rather than relying on broad composite scores alone, granular data and in-depth insights for every student help teachers pinpoint exact skill gaps and areas of unfinished learning, making whole-group, small-group, and 1:1 instruction more targeted and effective.
- It saves teachers time. Instant reports, automatic student groups, and ready-to-teach lessons mean teachers spend less time cobbling together materials and more time working directly with students and responding to their needs.
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition support screening for dyslexia risk?
DIBELS 8th Edition measures have been updated based on the latest research. They now offer stronger measures of processing speed, phonological awareness, and alphabetic principles for dyslexia screening purposes.
To support this, a new subtest in Word Reading Fluency was introduced and revisions were made to Letter Naming Fluency, Phonemic Segmentation Fluency, and Nonsense Fluency subtests to improve their ability to screen for deficits commonly associated with dyslexia risk, such as phonological awareness, rapid naming ability, and alphabetic principle. These measures provide early warning signs for neurological processing difficulties that contribute to risk for dyslexia (Wolf & Bowers, 1999; Denckla & Rudel, 1974).
Moreover, measures in Oral Language and Vocabulary are included to provide additional information to help evaluate additional risk areas associated with dyslexia risk.
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition support the use of running records?
Track your students’ reading progress from every angle with the Text Reading and Comprehension (TRC) assessment. When TRC is paired with the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment, classroom teachers unlock the ability to record reading behaviors through running digital records. Available in English and Spanish, it measures reading comprehension and provides insight into how each student finds meaning in text.

Measures include:
- Lesson plans for whole class, small-group, and one-on-one instruction.
- Small-group advisor, which organizes students into groups based on strengths and gaps.
- Item-level advisor, which drills deep into student responses to uncover patterns, strengths, and gaps.
- Instructional resources for each student’s parent/guardian(s).
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition turn data into instant action?
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition gives you instant results and clear next steps for each student.
Quick and actionable reports provide detailed insight into students’ reading development across foundational literacy skills for teachers, specialists, administrators, and caregivers.

Diagnostic assessment
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition analyzes individual student response data through a proprietary scoring algorithm that pinpoints a student’s specific area(s) of growth and improvement, providing classroom teachers in-depth insight into a students’ instructional needs.
Ready-to-teach instruction
Immediately following the analysis of individual student responses, mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition provides an in-depth diagnostic report complete with suggested next steps, also known as “mCLASS Instruction.”
mCLASS Instruction evaluates each student’s responses on each individual subtest and instantly:
- Provides a list of specific needs by student, such as struggling with medial vowel sounds or difficulty reading words with consonant blends.
- Groups students automatically based on similar discrete skill needs, not simply composite scores like other assessment tools.
- Recommends a variety of ready-to-teach lessons that specifically target each individual student’s areas of need or common areas of need for small-group instruction.
Classroom skill and benchmark summary
The Classroom Skill Summary report is a dashboard showing benchmark performance on each skill. Teachers can use it to determine which skill areas need instructional focus at a classroom level.
The Classroom Benchmark Summary report is a classroom-wide view of overall reading performance. Teachers can use this report to determine if composite scores improved, declined, or remained the same each semester.
Detailed benchmark performance
Teachers can see each student’s performance during the current school year, on each subtest as well as the overall composite. The benchmark goal displays below the subtest name when applicable. The ability to sort the columns in this report gives teachers more flexibility to analyze data the way they prefer.
Dyslexia screening
Identify students who are at risk for reading difficulties, including dyslexia, based on their results from foundational skills measures and additional measures as needed by local policies.
Progress monitoring summary
See which subtests have been assessed since the most recent benchmark assessment, how students performed on the three most recent progress monitoring assessments for each measure, and which students have not been progress monitored since the benchmark assessment.
Goal setting tool
The Zones of Growth (ZoG) analysis uses a rich set of national data to determine student goals for the next benchmark period. Teachers can use the Goal Setting Tool to view these recommended goals or modify the default goals for individual students as they see fit, if the default goal is too challenging or not challenging enough.
Growth outcomes
Teachers and interventionists can see each student’s actual growth achieved and how it compares to the goal that was set for the student.
Caregiver supports
The mCLASS Home Connect website houses literacy resources for parents and caregivers, including at-home lessons organized by skill. Our mCLASS parent/caregiver letters in English and Spanish ensure that families know how to best support their child.

Self-guided tour
Our self-guided tour is a great way to orient yourself to the organization of our mCLASS platform. Click the button below to get started.

Demo access
Follow the instructions below to login to your demo account.
- Click the mCLASS Demo button below.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter the username: d8demoD
- Enter the password: 1234
- Click the Reading tile.
Once you are logged in:
- Find the Class/Group dropdown field and select Grade 1.
- Right above the Class Summary, click Beginning of Year or Middle of Year and explore the data.
- Scroll down to the class list. Each column within the class list is sortable by clicking the double arrow in the column header.
- Click on any score to see the measure transcript.
- Click on a student’s name to see historical data and progress monitoring graphs.
After exploring the Benchmark tab in the purple bar:
- Click on the Instruction tab.
- If you don’t see groups, click Updated recommendations.
- Explore freely! The Groups, Students, and All Activities tabs have rich information.
- Click the Progress tab.
- Click on Home Connect to see a sample of our caregiver letters.
What is mCLASS?
mCLASS is a best-in-class assessment platform that houses a suite of proven, gold-standard assessment measures and tools that can be flexibly combined to meet the unique literacy needs of both teachers and students across grades K–6, including:
- Universal screening
- Diagnostic assessment
- Dyslexia screening
- Text Reading and Comprehension (a.k.a. running records via mCLASS: Reading 3D)
- Progress monitoring
- Dual language reporting
- Targeted teacher-led instruction
What is the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment?
Developed by the University of Oregon, the DIBELS 8th Edition is the latest version of the DIBELS® (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessment.
With this latest version, the University of Oregon Center on Teaching and Learning (UO CTL) made significant efforts to ensure measures would meet state-level screening requirements for universal screening, diagnostic assessment, and dyslexia screening. To support this, measures were updated based on the latest research to meet increased standards of reliability and validity. In addition, adaptive procedures and discontinue rules focus on the assessment of priority skills and prevent over-testing.
Summary of changes:
- Consistent measures within grades will provide improved growth measurement.
- All subtests have been revised to be grade-specific and to increase in difficulty, covering a full progression of skills and minimizing floor and ceiling effects. This provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate what they know and further pinpoint what they don’t know.
- Phoneme Segmentation Fluency replaces First Sound Fluency. The expanded coverage minimizes floor effect and provides information about difficulty in Phonemic Awareness skills without the additional First Sound Fluency measure.
- A new subtest, Word Reading Fluency, helps identify students with poor sight word reading skills that other subtests miss.
- For all measures, the basic scoring procedures remain the same. For Nonsense Word Fluency, credit is given for recording words as whole words even if the student misses in the first attempt.
- Oral Reading Fluency is now only one passage, instead of three. Retell has been removed. Thus, Oral Reading Fluency assessment will take a third of the time.
Assessment measures by grade
| DIBELS measures at each grade level | |||||
| Measure | Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grades 4–6 |
| Letter naming fluency | |||||
| Phonemic segmentation fluency | |||||
| Nonsense word fluency | |||||
| Word reading fluency | |||||
| Oral reading fluency | |||||
| Maze (basic comprehension) | |||||
| Amplify measures at each grade level | |||||
| Oral language | |||||
| Vocabulary | |||||
Assessment measures sample videos
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Phonemic Segmentation Fluency (PSF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Nonsense Word Fluency (NWF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Letter Naming Fluency (LNF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Word Reading Fluency (WRF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Oral Reading Fluency (ORF)
What makes mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition different?
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition combines the power of the mCLASS assessment platform and the effectiveness of the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment measures. As a result – educators are empowered with the latest and greatest assessment tool.
More than a test, mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition is an integrated system that closes the knowing-doing gap by helping teachers take immediate instructional action that’s right for each and every student.
Assessment systems must enable and compel educators to answer not just the “What” questions, but also the “So What” and “Now What” questions. These are the questions that are essential in transforming classroom instruction, and the questions that mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition helps teachers answer with confidence.
What makes mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition different?
- It gives teachers access to the latest digital version of the DIBELS assessment. Amplify is the only licensed provider of the digital DIBELS 8th Edition assessment. As such, our solution is the only one to enhance the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment with the power, reliability, and quickness of the mCLASS system.
- It makes it faster and easier to understand where every student is in their early literacy journey. By combining 1:1 observational diagnostic assessments, dyslexia screening, progress monitoring, instant scoring, rigorous reporting, automatic student grouping, and targeted instruction all in one place, it reduces the instructional delays associated with manual scoring, manual data analysis, and manual lesson planning.
- It brings more equity to the classroom. When used in conjunction with mCLASS Lectura, teachers have access to dual language reports that highlight a student’s strengths and weaknesses in both English and Spanish.
- It makes every instructional minute count. In addition to one-minute measures that quickly gauge student progress toward reading proficiency, it leverages a teacher’s most powerful instructional tool — their own 1:1 observations.
- It drives growth more efficiently. Rather than relying on broad composite scores alone, granular data and in-depth insights for every student help teachers pinpoint exact skill gaps and areas of unfinished learning, making whole-group, small-group, and 1:1 instruction more targeted and effective.
- It saves teachers time. Instant reports, automatic student groups, and ready-to-teach lessons mean teachers spend less time cobbling together materials and more time working directly with students and responding to their needs.
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition support screening for dyslexia risk?
DIBELS 8th Edition measures have been updated based on the latest research. They now offer stronger measures of processing speed, phonological awareness, and alphabetic principles for dyslexia screening purposes.
To support this, a new subtest in Word Reading Fluency was introduced and revisions were made to Letter Naming Fluency, Phonemic Segmentation Fluency, and Nonsense Fluency subtests to improve their ability to screen for deficits commonly associated with dyslexia risk, such as phonological awareness, rapid naming ability, and alphabetic principle. These measures provide early warning signs for neurological processing difficulties that contribute to risk for dyslexia (Wolf & Bowers, 1999; Denckla & Rudel, 1974).
Moreover, measures in Oral Language and Vocabulary are included to provide additional information to help evaluate additional risk areas associated with dyslexia risk.
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition support the use of running records?
Track your students’ reading progress from every angle with the Text Reading and Comprehension (TRC) assessment. When TRC is paired with the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment, classroom teachers unlock the ability to record reading behaviors through running digital records. Available in English and Spanish, it measures reading comprehension and provides insight into how each student finds meaning in text.

Measures include:
- Lesson plans for whole class, small-group, and one-on-one instruction.
- Small-group advisor, which organizes students into groups based on strengths and gaps.
- Item-level advisor, which drills deep into student responses to uncover patterns, strengths, and gaps.
- Instructional resources for each student’s parent/guardian(s).
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition turn data into instant action?
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition gives you instant results and clear next steps for each student.
Quick and actionable reports provide detailed insight into students’ reading development across foundational literacy skills for teachers, specialists, administrators, and caregivers.

Diagnostic assessment
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition analyzes individual student response data through a proprietary scoring algorithm that pinpoints a student’s specific area(s) of growth and improvement, providing classroom teachers in-depth insight into a students’ instructional needs.
Ready-to-teach instruction
Immediately following the analysis of individual student responses, mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition provides an in-depth diagnostic report complete with suggested next steps, also known as “mCLASS Instruction.”
mCLASS Instruction evaluates each student’s responses on each individual subtest and instantly:
- Provides a list of specific needs by student, such as struggling with medial vowel sounds or difficulty reading words with consonant blends.
- Groups students automatically based on similar discrete skill needs, not simply composite scores like other assessment tools.
- Recommends a variety of ready-to-teach lessons that specifically target each individual student’s areas of need or common areas of need for small-group instruction.
Classroom skill and benchmark summary
The Classroom Skill Summary report is a dashboard showing benchmark performance on each skill. Teachers can use it to determine which skill areas need instructional focus at a classroom level.
The Classroom Benchmark Summary report is a classroom-wide view of overall reading performance. Teachers can use this report to determine if composite scores improved, declined, or remained the same each semester.
Detailed benchmark performance
Teachers can see each student’s performance during the current school year, on each subtest as well as the overall composite. The benchmark goal displays below the subtest name when applicable. The ability to sort the columns in this report gives teachers more flexibility to analyze data the way they prefer.
Dyslexia screening
Identify students who are at risk for reading difficulties, including dyslexia, based on their results from foundational skills measures and additional measures as needed by local policies.
Progress monitoring summary
See which subtests have been assessed since the most recent benchmark assessment, how students performed on the three most recent progress monitoring assessments for each measure, and which students have not been progress monitored since the benchmark assessment.
Goal setting tool
The Zones of Growth (ZoG) analysis uses a rich set of national data to determine student goals for the next benchmark period. Teachers can use the Goal Setting Tool to view these recommended goals or modify the default goals for individual students as they see fit, if the default goal is too challenging or not challenging enough.
Growth outcomes
Teachers and interventionists can see each student’s actual growth achieved and how it compares to the goal that was set for the student.
Caregiver supports
The mCLASS Home Connect website houses literacy resources for parents and caregivers, including at-home lessons organized by skill. Our mCLASS parent/caregiver letters in English and Spanish ensure that families know how to best support their child.

Self-guided tour
Our self-guided tour is a great way to orient yourself to the organization of our mCLASS platform. Click the button below to get started.

Demo access
Follow the instructions below to login to your demo account.
- Click the mCLASS Demo button below.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter the username: d8demoD
- Enter the password: 1234
- Click the Reading tile.
Once you are logged in:
- Find the Class/Group dropdown field and select Grade 1.
- Right above the Class Summary, click Beginning of Year or Middle of Year and explore the data.
- Scroll down to the class list. Each column within the class list is sortable by clicking the double arrow in the column header.
- Click on any score to see the measure transcript.
- Click on a student’s name to see historical data and progress monitoring graphs.
After exploring the Benchmark tab in the purple bar:
- Click on the Instruction tab.
- If you don’t see groups, click Updated recommendations.
- Explore freely! The Groups, Students, and All Activities tabs have rich information.
- Click the Progress tab.
- Click on Home Connect to see a sample of our caregiver letters.
What is mCLASS?
mCLASS is a best-in-class assessment platform that houses a suite of proven, gold-standard assessment measures and tools that can be flexibly combined to meet the unique literacy needs of both teachers and students across grades K–6, including:
- Universal screening
- Diagnostic assessment
- Dyslexia screening
- Progress monitoring
- Dual language reporting
- Quick 1-minute assessment measures
- Real-time results, instant analysis, automatic student grouping
- Targeted teacher-led instruction with ready-to-use mini-lessons
What is the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment?
Developed by the University of Oregon, the DIBELS 8th Edition is the latest version of the DIBELS® (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessment.
With this latest version, the University of Oregon Center on Teaching and Learning (UO CTL) made significant efforts to ensure measures would meet state-level screening requirements for universal screening, diagnostic assessment, and dyslexia screening. To support this, measures were updated based on the latest research to meet increased standards of reliability and validity. In addition, adaptive procedures and discontinue rules focus assessment on priority skills and prevent over-testing.
Summary of changes:
- Consistent measures within grades will provide improved growth measurement.
- All subtests have been revised to be grade-specific and to increase in difficulty, covering a full progression of skills and minimizing floor and ceiling effects. This provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate what they know and further pinpoint what they don’t know.
- Phoneme Segmentation Fluency replaces First Sound Fluency. The expanded coverage minimizes floor effect and provides information about difficulty in PA skills without the additional FSF measure.
- A new subtest, Word Reading Fluency, helps identify students with poor sight word reading skills that other subtests miss.
- For all measures, the basic scoring procedures remain the same. For NWF, credit is given for recording words as whole words even if the student misses in the first attempt.
- Oral Reading Fluency is now only one passage, instead of three. Retell has been removed. Thus, ORF assessment will take a third of the time.
Assessment measures by grade
| DIBELS measures at each grade level | ||||
| Measure | Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 |
| Letter naming fluency | ||||
| Phonemic segmentation fluency | ||||
| Nonsense word fluency | ||||
| Word reading fluency | ||||
| Oral reading fluency | ||||
| Maze (basic comprehension) | ||||
| Amplify measures at each grade level | ||||
| Oral language | ||||
| Vocabulary | ||||
Assessment measures sample videos
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Phonemic Segmentation Fluency (PSF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Nonsense Word Fluency (NWF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Letter Naming Fluency (LNF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Word Reading Fluency (WRF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Oral Reading Fluency (ORF)
How is mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition different?
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition combines the power of the mCLASS assessment platform and the effectiveness of the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment measures. As a result – educators across the state are empowered with the latest and greatest assessment tool.
More than a test, mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition is an integrated system that closes the knowing-doing gap by helping teachers take immediate instructional action that’s right for each and every student.
Assessment systems must enable and compel educators to answer not just the “What” questions, but also the “So What” and “Now What” questions. These are the questions that are essential in transforming classroom instruction, and the questions that mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition helps teachers answer with confidence.
How is mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition different?
- It gives teachers access to the latest digital version of the DIBELS assessment. Amplify is the only licensed provider of the digital DIBELS 8th Edition assessment. As such, our solution is the only one to enhance the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment with the power, reliability, and quickness of the mCLASS system.
- It makes it faster and easier to understand where every student is in their early literacy journey. By combining 1:1 observational diagnostic assessments, dyslexia screening, progress monitoring, instant scoring, rigorous reporting, automatic student grouping, and targeted instruction all in one place, it reduces the instructional delays associated with manual scoring, manual data analysis, and manual lesson planning.
- It brings more equity to the classroom. When used in conjunction with mCLASS Lectura, teachers have access to dual language reports that highlight a student’s strengths and weaknesses in both English and Spanish.
- It makes every instructional minute count. In addition to one-minute measures that quickly gauge student progress toward reading proficiency, it leverages a teacher’s most powerful instructional tool — their own 1:1 observations.
- It drives growth more efficiently. Rather than relying on broad composite scores alone, granular data and in-depth insights for every student help teachers pinpoint exact skill gaps and areas of unfinished learning, making whole-group, small-group, and 1:1 instruction more targeted and effective.
- It saves teachers time. Instant reports, automatic student groups, and ready-to-teach lessons mean teachers spend less time cobbling together materials and more time working directly with students and responding to their needs.
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition support screening for dyslexia risk?
DIBELS 8th Edition measures have been updated based on the latest research. They now offer stronger measures of processing speed, phonological awareness, and alphabetic principles for dyslexia screening purposes.
To support this, a new subtest in Word Reading Fluency was introduced and revisions were made to Letter Naming Fluency, Phonemic Segmentation Fluency, and Nonsense Fluency subtests to improve their ability to screen for deficits commonly associated with dyslexia risk, such as phonological awareness, rapid naming ability, and alphabetic principle. These measures provide early warning signs for neurological processing difficulties that contribute to risk for dyslexia (Wolf & Bowers, 1999; Denckla & Rudel, 1974).
Moreover, measures in Oral Language and Vocabulary are included to provide additional information to help evaluate additional risk areas associated with dyslexia risk.
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition turn data into instant action?
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition gives you instant results and clear next steps for each student.
Quick and actionable reports provide detailed insight into students’ reading development across foundational literacy skills for teachers, specialists, administrators, and caregivers.

Diagnostic assessment
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition analyzes individual student response data through a innovative scoring algorithm that leverages an item-level evaluation of individual student responses in order to provide deeper insights into specific student weaknesses and areas of improvement.
Ready-to-teach instruction
Immediately following the analysis of individual student responses, mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition provides an in-depth diagnostic report complete with suggested next steps, also known as “mCLASS Instruction.”
mCLASS Instruction evaluates each student’s responses on each individual subtest and instantly:
- Provides a list of specific needs by student, such as struggling with medial vowel sounds or difficulty reading words with consonant blends.
- Groups students automatically based on similar discrete skill needs, not simply composite scores like other assessment tools.
- Recommends a variety of ready-to-teach lessons that specifically target each individual student’s areas of need or common areas of need for small-group instruction.
Classroom skill and benchmark summary
The Classroom Skill Summary report is a dashboard showing benchmark performance on each skill. Teachers can use it to determine which skill areas need instructional focus at a classroom level.
The Classroom Benchmark Summary report is a classroom-wide view of overall reading performance. Teachers can use this report to determine if composite scores improved, declined, or remained the same each semester.
Detailed benchmark performance
Teachers can see each student’s performance during the current school year, on each subtest as well as the overall composite. The benchmark goal displays below the subtest name when applicable. The ability to sort the columns in this report gives teachers more flexibility to analyze data the way they prefer.
Dyslexia screening
Identify students who are at risk for reading difficulties, including dyslexia, based on their results from foundational skills measures and additional measures as needed by local policies.
Progress monitoring summary
See which subtests have been assessed since the most recent benchmark assessment, how students performed on the three most recent progress monitoring assessments for each measure, and which students have not been progress monitored since the benchmark assessment.
Goal setting tool
The Zones of Growth (ZoG) analysis uses a rich set of national data to determine student goals for the next benchmark period. Teachers can use the Goal Setting Tool to view these recommended goals or modify the default goals for individual students as they see fit, if the default goal is too challenging or not challenging enough.
Growth outcomes
Teachers and interventionists can see each student’s actual growth achieved and how it compares to the goal that was set for the student.
Caregiver supports
The mCLASS Home Connect website houses literacy resources for parents and caregivers, including at-home lessons organized by skill. Our mCLASS parent/caregiver letters in English and Spanish ensure that families know how to best support their child.

Explore our self-guided tour
Our self-guided tour is a great way to orient yourself to the organization of our mCLASS platform. Click the button below to get started.

What is mCLASS?
mCLASS is a best-in-class assessment platform that houses a suite of proven, gold-standard assessment measures and tools that can be flexibly combined to meet the unique literacy needs of both teachers and students across grades K–6, including:
- Universal screening
- Diagnostic assessment
- Dyslexia screening
- Progress monitoring
- Dual language reporting
- Targeted teacher-led instruction
What is the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment?
Developed by the University of Oregon, the DIBELS 8th Edition is the latest version of the DIBELS® (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessment.
With this latest version, the University of Oregon Center on Teaching and Learning (UO CTL) made significant efforts to ensure measures would meet state-level screening requirements for universal screening, diagnostic assessment, and dyslexia screening. To support this, measures were updated based on the latest research to meet increased standards of reliability and validity. In addition, adaptive procedures and discontinue rules focus on the assessment of priority skills and prevent over-testing.
Summary of changes:
- Consistent measures within grades will provide improved growth measurement.
- All subtests have been revised to be grade-specific and to increase in difficulty, covering a full progression of skills and minimizing floor and ceiling effects. This provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate what they know and further pinpoint what they don’t know.
- Phoneme Segmentation Fluency replaces First Sound Fluency. The expanded coverage minimizes floor effect and provides information about difficulty in Phonemic Awareness skills without the additional First Sound Fluency measure.
- A new subtest, Word Reading Fluency, helps identify students with poor sight word reading skills that other subtests miss.
- For all measures, the basic scoring procedures remain the same. For Nonsense Word Fluency, credit is given for recording words as whole words even if the student misses in the first attempt.
- Oral Reading Fluency is now only one passage, instead of three. Retell has been removed. Thus, Oral Reading Fluency assessment will take a third of the time.
Assessment measures by grade
| DIBELS measures at each grade level | ||||
| Measure | Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 |
| Letter naming fluency | ||||
| Phonemic segmentation fluency | ||||
| Nonsense word fluency | ||||
| Word reading fluency | ||||
| Oral reading fluency | ||||
| Maze (basic comprehension) | ||||
| Amplify measures at each grade level | ||||
| Oral language | ||||
| Vocabulary | ||||
Assessment measures sample videos
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Phonemic Segmentation Fluency (PSF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Nonsense Word Fluency (NWF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Letter Naming Fluency (LNF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Word Reading Fluency (WRF)
DIBELS 8th Edition measure: Oral Reading Fluency (ORF)
How is mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition different?
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition combines the power of the mCLASS assessment platform and the effectiveness of the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment measures. As a result – educators across the state are empowered with the latest and greatest assessment tool.
More than a test, mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition is an integrated system that closes the knowing-doing gap by helping teachers take immediate instructional action that’s right for each and every student.
Assessment systems must enable and compel educators to answer not just the “What” questions, but also the “So What” and “Now What” questions. These are the questions that are essential in transforming classroom instruction, and the questions that mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition helps teachers answer with confidence.
How is mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition different?
- It gives teachers access to the latest digital version of the DIBELS assessment. Amplify is the only licensed provider of the digital DIBELS 8th Edition assessment. As such, our solution is the only one to enhance the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment with the power, reliability, and quickness of the mCLASS system.
- It makes it faster and easier to understand where every student is in their early literacy journey. By combining 1:1 observational diagnostic assessments, dyslexia screening, progress monitoring, instant scoring, rigorous reporting, automatic student grouping, and targeted instruction all in one place, it reduces the instructional delays associated with manual scoring, manual data analysis, and manual lesson planning.
- It brings more equity to the classroom. When used in conjunction with mCLASS Lectura, teachers have access to dual language reports that highlight a student’s strengths and weaknesses in both English and Spanish.
- It makes every instructional minute count. In addition to one-minute measures that quickly gauge student progress toward reading proficiency, it leverages a teacher’s most powerful instructional tool — their own 1:1 observations.
- It drives growth more efficiently. Rather than relying on broad composite scores alone, granular data and in-depth insights for every student help teachers pinpoint exact skill gaps and areas of unfinished learning, making whole-group, small-group, and 1:1 instruction more targeted and effective.
- It saves teachers time. Instant reports, automatic student groups, and ready-to-teach lessons mean teachers spend less time cobbling together materials and more time working directly with students and responding to their needs.
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition support screening for dyslexia risk?
DIBELS 8th Edition measures have been updated based on the latest research. They now offer stronger measures of processing speed, phonological awareness, and alphabetic principles for dyslexia screening purposes.
To support this, a new subtest in Word Reading Fluency was introduced and revisions were made to Letter Naming Fluency, Phonemic Segmentation Fluency, and Nonsense Fluency subtests to improve their ability to screen for deficits commonly associated with dyslexia risk, such as phonological awareness, rapid naming ability, and alphabetic principle. These measures provide early warning signs for neurological processing difficulties that contribute to risk for dyslexia (Wolf & Bowers, 1999; Denckla & Rudel, 1974).
Moreover, measures in Oral Language and Vocabulary are included to provide additional information to help evaluate additional risk areas associated with dyslexia risk.
How does mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition turn data into instant action?
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition gives you instant results and clear next steps for each student.
Quick and actionable reports provide detailed insight into students’ reading development across foundational literacy skills for teachers, specialists, administrators, and caregivers.

Diagnostic assessment
mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition analyzes individual student response data through a scoring algorithm which aligns to the Colorado Department of Education’s stated purpose of a diagnostic assessment.
Our innovative approach to diagnostic assessment leverages an item-level evaluation of individual student responses in order to provide deeper insights into specific student weaknesses and areas of improvement. mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition analyzes individual student response data through a scoring algorithm which aligns to the Colorado Department of Education’s stated purpose of a diagnostic: “… to pinpoint a student’s specific area(s) of weakness and provide in-depth information about students’ skills and instructional needs.”
For a full list of diagnostic observations, click the button below to download the Digital Assessment Materials navigation guide.
Ready-to-teach instruction
Immediately following the analysis of individual student responses, mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition provides an in-depth diagnostic report complete with suggested next steps, also known as “mCLASS Instruction.”
mCLASS Instruction evaluates each student’s responses on each individual subtest and instantly:
- Provides a list of specific needs by student, such as struggling with medial vowel sounds or difficulty reading words with consonant blends.
- Groups students automatically based on similar discrete skill needs, not simply composite scores like other assessment tools.
- Recommends a variety of ready-to-teach lessons that specifically target each individual student’s areas of need or common areas of need for small-group instruction.
Classroom skill and benchmark summary
The Classroom Skill Summary report is a dashboard showing benchmark performance on each skill. Teachers can use it to determine which skill areas need instructional focus at a classroom level.
The Classroom Benchmark Summary report is a classroom-wide view of overall reading performance. Teachers can use this report to determine if composite scores improved, declined, or remained the same each semester.
Detailed benchmark performance
Teachers can see each student’s performance during the current school year, on each subtest as well as the overall composite. The benchmark goal displays below the subtest name when applicable. The ability to sort the columns in this report gives teachers more flexibility to analyze data the way they prefer.
Dyslexia screening
Identify students who are at risk for reading difficulties, including dyslexia, based on their results from foundational skills measures and additional measures as needed by local policies.
Progress monitoring summary
See which subtests have been assessed since the most recent benchmark assessment, how students performed on the three most recent progress monitoring assessments for each measure, and which students have not been progress monitored since the benchmark assessment.
Goal setting tool
The Zones of Growth (ZoG) analysis uses a rich set of national data to determine student goals for the next benchmark period. Teachers can use the Goal Setting Tool to view these recommended goals or modify the default goals for individual students as they see fit, if the default goal is too challenging or not challenging enough.
Growth outcomes
Teachers and interventionists can see each student’s actual growth achieved and how it compares to the goal that was set for the student.
Colorado READ Plans
Amplify recommends that a student who is categorized by the DIBELS 8th Edition composite score as “At High Risk” (denoted in all reports as “red”) be considered as potentially having a “Significant Reading Deficiency,” then further diagnosed using mCLASS’ Instruction diagnostics.
When devising a READ Plan, teachers and instructional staff should first consider students at high risk on DIBELS 8th Edition as potentially having a “Significant Reading Deficiency,” and eligible for a READ Plan. Students are then further diagnosed using mCLASS’ Instruction diagnostics. When devising a READ Plan, teachers can rely on the relevant mCLASS Instruction and Reports to comply with the READ Act.
Caregiver supports
The mCLASS Home Connect website houses literacy resources for parents and caregivers, including at-home lessons organized by skill. Our mCLASS parent/caregiver letters in English and Spanish ensure that families know how to best support their child.

Explore our self-guided tour
Our self-guided tour is a great way to orient yourself to the organization of our mCLASS platform. Click the button below to get started.

Contact us
Looking to speak directly with your Colorado representative? Get in touch with a team member by emailing HelloColorado@amplify.com or by calling us directly.
Enrollment over 2,500 students

Monty Lammers
Senior Account Executive
(719) 964-4501
mCLASS® with DIBELS® 8th Edition for Colorado
School year 2026–2027 requirements
| iPad® 7+ Description: 1024 x 788 or higher, 32GB or higher Operating system: iPadOS 18+ Browser: Safari 18+ |
| PC Description: 1.4 GHz dual core or greater, 1024 x 768 or higher, 4GB of RAM or higher Operating system: Windows: 10+ Browser: Chrome (latest 2 versions) |
| Chromebook Description: 1.4 GHz dual core or greater, 1024 x 768 or higher, 4GB of RAM or higher Operating system: Chrome OS Browser: Chrome (latest 2 versions) |
| Mac® Description: 1.4 GHz dual core or greater, 1024 x 768 or higher, 4GB of RAM or higher Operating system: macOS 15+ Browser: Safari 15+, Chrome (latest 2 versions) |
The following devices are recommended for optimal performance and experience:
| iPad | iPad Air® 4 iPad 8+ |
| Chromebook™ | Acer Chromebook 314 Samsung Chromebook 4 Dell™ Chromebook 3120 HP Chromebook x360 |
| Mac | MacBook Pro® MacBook Air® |
| Interactive Board | A Google certified EDLA device, such as the SMART RX Series |
The following devices are not supported due to known sub-optimal performance from older hardware or complicated settings:
| Microsoft | Surface Tablet® |
School year 2025–2026 requirements
| iPad® 7+ Description: 1024 x 788 or higher, 32GB or higher Operating system: iPadOS 17+ Browser: Safari 17+ |
| PC Description: 1.4 GHz dual core or greater, 1024 x 768 or higher, 4GB of RAM or higher Operating system: Windows: 10+ Browser: Chrome (latest 2 versions) |
| Chromebook Description: 1.4 GHz dual core or greater, 1024 x 768 or higher, 4GB of RAM or higher Operating system: Chrome OS Browser: Chrome (latest 2 versions) |
| Mac® Description: 1.4 GHz dual core or greater, 1024 x 768 or higher, 4GB of RAM or higher Operating system: macOS 14+ Browser: Safari 15+, Chrome (latest 2 versions) |
The following devices are recommended for optimal performance and experience:
| iPad | iPad Air® 4 iPad 8+ |
| Chromebook™ | Acer Chromebook 314 Samsung Chromebook 4 Dell™ Chromebook 3120 HP Chromebook x360 |
| Mac | MacBook Pro® MacBook Air® iMac® |
| Interactive Board | A Google certified EDLA device, such as the SMART RX Series |
The following devices are not supported due to known sub-optimal performance from older hardware or complicated settings:
| Microsoft | Surface Tablet® |
We will provide active support of our applications on the following devices for the full school year listed below.
Device final support year
| iPad 6 | 2024–2025 |
| iPad Air 3 | 2025–2026 |
| iPad 5 | 2022–2023 |
| iPad Air 2 | 2021–2022 |
| iPad 2 | 2018/2019 |
| iPad 3 | 2018/2019 |
| iPad 4 | 2018/2019 |
Network environment
| MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS | |
| User devices: | Connect to Amplify servers via ports 80 and 443. |
| Latency: | No more than 165 ms during peak utilization. |
| Connection speed: | 2 mbps per device during peak usage (10 mbps recommended). Boost Reading requires a connection speed of 10 mbps per user for optimal performance. |
| URLs: | For the complete list of URLs to allow, please visit https://amplify.com/allowlist/. |
Requirements
mCLASS assessments are optimized for most touchscreen devices using Chrome™ or Safari® web browsers. The teacher-led, observational assessments are best conducted using touchscreen but will function using a laptop and mouse as well. Please check our device support lifecycles and purchase recommendations lists below prior to purchasing.
Boost Close Reading is currently not supported on iPads.
Due to its smaller screen, the iPad Mini is not supported.
Amplify curriculum applications require the ability to project from the teacher’s device.
Boost Reading Benchmark uses speech recognition software to analyze students’ oral reading. For the most accurate results, use a wired dual-ear headset with a boom microphone that extends in front of the student’s mouth. Avoid headsets with active noise cancellation (ANC) unless that feature can be disabled. Bluetooth headsets are currently incompatible with our speech recognition technology and should not be used.
For Amplify ELA Mobile Solos the following devices are recommended for optimal performance and experience:
iPhone 13 and later running iOS 17+ and Safari
Galaxy 11 and later running Android 15+ and Chrome
Putting equity first
When so much about the world needs to shift, so urgently… here are a few places to start.

Listen: Educator, author, and leader Shawn Joseph shares his passion for social justice and discusses his work advocating for equity in education, shedding light on what he calls the “silent crisis” in literacy instruction.

Learn: Share Shawn Joseph’s discussion guide with your colleagues. Which insights are the most relevant to your district this year?

Lead: Take a look at this curated collection of multicultural and social justice books. Could one spark discussion for your students?

Lead: Share this infographic on the journey to freedom with your class. Ask students to select an event to research and present a two-minute video talk.
Leveraging the science of reading
Go deep on the insights and practices that will help our classrooms (remote or otherwise)–based on the latest science, and adaptable to every shift in the educational landscape.

Learn: Susan Lambert talks to Language Magazine about the science of reading and what it means right now.
Building strong foundational skills
Strong, systematic sound-first instruction is critical to helping students learn to decode and can increase student success. Learn how specific skills can increase your impact.

Learn: Start with Emily Hanford’s “Hard Words” article.

Listen: Jasmine Lane on the importance of equity, and how early literacy teachers can make a difference.

Listen: Bruce McCandliss on the changes a child’s brain shows when learning to read

Lead: Challenge a colleague to this Scarborough’s Rope activity–work through a sample lesson from your district and point out elements of the reading rope.
Sharing knowledge resources
Students need to be able to both read words and get the meaning of what they’re reading. Find out how to help them build key background knowledge from the get-go, so that it compounds over time.

Learn: Begin with Why knowledge matters–then follow up with Natalie Wexler’s podcast

Learn: Take a look at Achieve the Core’s overview of the importance of building knowledge and the groundbreaking “baseball study“

Listen: Anne Lucas on the importance of comprehension and the specific skills that can boost it.

Listen: Tim Shanahan on four crucial aspects in teaching reading and his views on teaching reading in middle school as an extension of evidence-based early literacy practices

Learn: Begin with Why knowledge matters–then follow up with Natalie Wexler’s podcast

Learn: Take a look at Achieve the Core’s overview of the importance of building knowledge and the groundbreaking “baseball study“
Assessing what students need
Assessment this year is more important than ever before–and also more challenging. What does this extended summer slide look like? How can you find time to review what’s needed, while still moving forward?

Learn: Education for Global Development’s thoughts on formative assessment in the time of COVID-19.

Learn: District Administration on why educators want more data– and more guidance on how to use it

Learn: Catch up on dyslexia risk factors and state legislation with our dyslexia toolkit.

Listen: Nancy Nelson on the importance of universal screeners in literacy instruction.

Lead: What can you offer struggling readers and their caregivers? Take a look at the IDA’s COVID-19 Resource Guide.
Thriving through remote learning
Everything about this school year has changed–yet your work is more important than ever before. How can you support your students, and your colleagues, in this new normal? Stop by Amplify Anywhere for ideas that may help.
And while you’re here–please download your free PDF “20 Self-Care Tips for Educators Right Now” (and please take care of yourselves!).
Alana Mangham on Teaching Now
Natalie Wexler on the New Normal
Thinking about back-to-school
Though it feels like the landscape is changing every day, we know we’ve got to find a way to get students back to learning. What will your school day look like? What reinforcement might you need to do in order to ensure equity? We will continue to share resources to support your journey.

Learn: In this recorded webinar, explore some ways CARES Act funding might support your students.

Learn: Hear from Baltimore educator Lucas Drerup on making middle school ELA both enjoyable and rigorous for students.

Listen: Jackson-Madison CAO Jared Myracle shares his thoughts on change management and the science of reading.

Listen: Doug Lemov, managing director of Uncommon Schools, discusses the role of technology in the classroom and remote instruction, and how educators can reconsider how they approach literacy.

Lead: As you consider how and when to reopen, review this article from The Atlantic on Eight steps that will let us reopen schools.

Lead: Guidance from District Administration on reopening safely this fall.
Finding high-quality instructional materials
If you were already thinking about new literacy resources–you’ve now got even more ideas about what high quality looks like. How will your literacy program work for all students? How do you need your literacy resources to support you in the classroom, in remote learning, and for every scenario in between?

Learn: Review this guide to a high-quality curriculum adoption. What factors matter most now, in literacy and in every subject?

Listen: Hear nationally recognized reading experts and authors David and Meredith Liben discuss evidence based solutions and more.

Lead: Download this K-8 ELA Instructional Materials Evaluation Guide. Share with your district leadership. What resources will you all need next year (and beyond) to do the best job possible for your students?

Lead: Talk to a few colleagues in the coming weeks. What are they seeing right now? What are they planning to improve next year?
Staying strong and staying connected!

Looking for ways to connect with other educators and stay updated on the latest research and trends in the science of reading? Check out a few more ways to do so below.
Science of Reading: The Podcast delivers the latest insights from researchers and practitioners in early reading. Further your professional development with each episode by subscribing and downloading them now.
Science of Reading: The Community is built for those committed to fostering conversation around the science of reading and implementing best practices in the classroom (including the virtual classroom).
Ready for more? Complete the form below to stay up-to-date on the latest resources.

Welcome to the Resources Hub.
Dive into our array of resources on teaching and learning topics, including high-quality instructional materials, the latest conversations in STEM and literacy, and our library of recent webinars featuring thought leaders from across the country.
What is the Science of Reading?
The Science of Reading refers to the vast body of growing research that indicates how children learn to read, and the instruction that gets them there. Dive into frameworks for understanding reading fluency, read the latest research, and find strategies you can implement in your classroom. If you need a place to start, check out Science of Reading: The Podcast.


High-quality instructional materials in action
What are high-quality materials, and why do they matter? How can you support your district or school in adopting a high-quality program? We’ve gathered resources to help answer all those questions. Read our five fundamentals of HQIM in action, watch a video about high-quality curriculum coming to life, download our guide, and more.
Literacy resources
Reading is the foundation for learning—and we are here to help you build it. Dive into our multimedia library of literacy resources to learn how to engage middle schoolers in ELA and explore the Science of Reading through our popular podcast and our guide to implementing SOR-based programs in your school or district.


Math resources
Learn to envision and build a social, collaborative math classroom, hang out with educators and experts in our Math Teacher Lounge podcast, try out interactive lessons on Desmos Classroom, and discover new ways to make math learning engaging for all.
Science resources
Get the resources you need to help your students to think, read, inquire, and explore like scientists. Read our science blog posts and our guide to literacy-rich science instruction, learn the elements and dimensions of the Next Generation Science Standards—including phenomenon-based learning—and tune into our Science Connections podcast to keep up with the latest.


Research
Our education research hub includes our own case studies, impact and efficacy research, and documentation of the peer-reviewed research base that informs our programs. Learn about all the education intervention, science research, literacy research—and more—that make us who we are and can support your teaching every day.

Amplify webinar library
We host webinars on a range of topics featuring educators and thought leaders from across the country. You’ll find useful information about Amplify programs, professional development topics, and the latest industry insights on STEM, early literacy, high-quality instructional resources, and more.
Media
Browse Amplify’s many and recent contributions to K–12 education news. And if you’re with the media, please contact the Amplify media team (media@amplify.com).


Events
Our calendar is full of helpful webinars, podcasts, workshops, conferences, and more—all designed to support educators, share resources, and build community. Fill your calendar by visiting the Amplify Events page.
Order forms and pricing summaries
Please refer to this page for pricing by program. An Amplify account executive will be happy to provide you with more information or give you a price quote.

Oregon ELA Review for Elementary (K–5)
Science of Reading: Getting started and best practices
Explore the latest research in the science of reading, listen to national experts discuss the latest topics, and find out about our upcoming virtual events.
What are high-quality instructional materials (HQIM), and why do they matter?
Kansas recognizes how imperative it is to provide a high-quality literacy curriculum that is aligned with the Science of Reading to prepare students for college and career readiness. We’ve assembled resources here so you can explore how to support your district or school in adopting a high-quality program.
Review our high-quality literacy solutions
Bring the science of reading to your classroom with these high-quality programs. Click the program you’d like to review below for:
- An introductory video
- Downloadable resources such as brochures and rubrics
- Access to complete units online by grade
K-5 programs and resources
CORE PROGRAMS
SUPPLEMENTALS
ASSESSMENT & INTERVENTION
6-8 programs and resources
CORE PROGRAMS
Amplify ELA
Amplify Math (coming soon!)
Amplify Science
SUPPLEMENTALS
Contact us
For more information, please fill out the form below or reach out to your Kansas sales representative, Vanessa Scott.
Vanessa Scott
Account Executive
vascott@amplify.com
(602) 690-1096
The early reading gender gap may be smaller than it seems.

Amplify’s 2024–25 research brief on the latest end-of-year literacy data showed improvement in early literacy across grades K–2, with more young learners on track to learn to read and fewer far behind than at any time since the pandemic.
Compared to 2020–21, 8% more second graders, 14% more first graders, and 21% more kindergarteners were at or above benchmark.
We also found that while boys in grades K–2 score the same or better than girls of the same age in reading readiness at the beginning of the year, girls improved more during the school year, narrowing gaps and sometimes outperforming boys by end of year.
A complex picture of early readers
The data present a nuanced picture of gender disparities in early literacy.
Among K–2 students who were on track to learn to read at the end of the 2024–25 school year, boys began the year with the same or better early reading scores than girls.

But in spite of this slim advantage, girls were ahead of boys by the end of kindergarten and first grade. Girls again narrowed the gap in second grade, but boys were still slightly ahead at the end of the year.
Similarities below the literacy benchmark
The story was similar for K–2 students at risk of not learning to read.
Across K–2, girls scored the same or better than boys, and the same trend emerged with students who were on track: During the year, girls showed more improvement than boys.
As a result, by the end of the year, fewer girls were at risk of not learning to read than boys.

Toward reading readiness
The latest end-of-year data show that student performance in early reading is at the highest levels since the lows of the pandemic five years ago. More students are on track for learning to read and fewer are far behind in grades K–2. But despite these successes, broad literacy trends across the United States remain a concern, as year-over-year progress across all early grades has slowed. As schools and districts align on priorities ahead of the new school year, they must take into account students who are learning to read. It’s important that schools and districts invest in a reliable universal screener, high-quality core curriculum, evidence-based interventions, and professional development.
“Grades K–2 remain critical years for literacy development,” said Susan Lambert, Chief Academic Officer of elementary humanities at Amplify and the host of Science of Reading: The Podcast. “To support young readers, educators need data-driven insights into student reading development and instructional practices that are based in the Science of Reading.”
Teachers and administrators can best support all students with data-driven strategies and tools for reaching literary benchmarks, including:
- Administering elementary reading assessments three times a year to monitor student risk level for reading challenges.
- Supporting students at risk for not learning to read by analyzing data from reading assessments and making informed decisions.
- Allocating extra classroom time and resources to help students who aren’t on track.
- Monitoring progress and making adjustments as needed.
- Ensuring that evidence-based reading instruction is offered at every grade level.
- Instilling a love of reading in and out of school, in partnership with caregivers and community.
How we gather data
Amplify mCLASS, our teacher-administered literary assessment and intervention suite for grades K–6, is powered by Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELSⓇ) 8th Edition—an observational assessment collected by teachers interacting with students one on one, either live or over video, typically administered three times a year (beginning, middle, and end of year).
At the end of the school year, our report highlights reading scores by comparing Amplify mCLASS with DIBELS benchmark data from the preceding six school years (2019–20 through 2024–25).
Our data represent approximately 250,000 students in a matched set of 1,400 schools in 43 states. The schools in the source data are slightly more likely to be in large urban metropolitan areas than the nation overall, but perform comparably to the much larger mCLASS national population.
Additional resources
Let’s keep the conversation going! Join the discussion in our Amplify learning communities.
Dive into the findings in our End-of-Year Report.
More to explore
Oregon Math State Review for 9–12
Oregon Math State Review for 6–8
Oregon ELA State Review for 6–8
What is mCLASS?
mCLASS is a best-in-class assessment platform that houses a suite of proven, gold-standard assessment measures and tools that can be flexibly combined to meet the unique literacy needs of both teachers and students across grades K–6, including:
- Universal screening
- Diagnostic assessment
- Dyslexia screening
- Progress monitoring
- Dual language reporting
- Targeted teacher-led instruction
What is the Lectura assessment?
The Lectura assessment is a brand-new interim and diagnostic assessment that consists of measures based on the latest research of how Spanish literacy develops.
Co-developed with the Center on Teaching and Learning at the University of Oregon (UO CTL) and validated in partnership with Dr. Lillian Durán, the Lectura assessment was created to provide educators with a high-quality, evidence-based tool to support understanding of Spanish-speaking students’ biliteracy development, specifically foundational Spanish reading skills, which includes measures of phonological awareness, alphabetic understanding and decoding, reading fluency, and reading comprehension.
The measures in Lectura were written from the ground-up to assess students’ literacy development based on how Spanish literacy develops. Measures explicitly account for the syllabic and morphological structures of Spanish, and connected text was written and calibrated with respect to syntactical, lexical, and grammatical rules of Spanish. For example, phonological awareness is measured using syllable segmentation, and letter sounds and syllable reading are included in the decoding subtests for greater face-validity (in lieu of pseudowords). Word choice reflects the multisyllabic word complexity and variety of Spanish, driven by how decoding skills develop in Spanish. As such, Lectura provides instructionally actionable data for all students, including those scoring below the benchmark and those who meet or exceed the benchmark.
The Lectura assessment measures were purposefully designed, developed, field tested, and evaluated to address limitations that educators of Spanish speaking students have experienced in assessments. Specifically in these ways:
- Assessment measures based on current research on how Spanish literacy is developed
- Culturally responsive word choice and content reflecting the regional diversity of Spanish
- Technical adequacy established through rigorous study
- A sample size and geographic diversity reflecting the broad population of Spanish speakers across the U.S.
- Complete parity with English solutions (instructional tools, skill coverage)
Assessment measures by grade
| Lectura measures at each grade level | ||||
| Measure | Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 |
| Fluidez en nombrar letras | ||||
| Fluidez en la segmentación de sílabas | ||||
| ¿Qué queda? | ||||
| Fluidez en los sonidos de letras | ||||
| Fluidez en los sonidos de sílabas | ||||
| Fluidez en las palabras | ||||
| Fluidez en la lectura oral | ||||
| ¿Cuál palabra? | ||||
| Amplify measures at each grade level | ||||
| Oral Language Español | ||||
| Vocabulario | ||||
Assessment measures sample videos
Please note that the videos below are intended for illustrative purposes only. Performance levels in mCLASS Lectura have yet to be finalized.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en nombrar letras (FNL)
Students are asked to identify as many uppercase and lowercase letter names as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en los sonidos de letras (FSL)
Students are asked to identify the sounds of as many uppercase and lowercase letters as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en los sonidos de sílabas (LSS)
Students are presented with a page of printed orthographically regular Spanish syllables and asked to read as many syllables as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en la lectura oral (FLO)
Students are presented with an authentically written informational or narrative passage of Spanish connected text and asked to read as much of the passage as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: ¿Qué Queda? (QQ)
Students are presented with a word orally and then the examiner omits part of the word (i.e., compound word part, syllable, or phoneme). Students are asked to identify what word remains after the word part has been elided.
How is mCLASS Lectura different?
mCLASS Lectura combines the power of the mCLASS assessment platform and the effectiveness of the Lectura assessment measures. As a result – educators across the state are empowered with latest and greatest assessment tool.
More than a test, mCLASS Lectura is an integrated system that closes the knowing-doing gap by helping teachers take immediate instructional action that’s right for each and every student. What’s more, it addresses the classroom inequities Spanish-speaking students face along their early literacy journeys.
Spanish-speaking students have been underserved and misclassified for decades. With mCLASS Lectura, teachers of Spanish-speaking students finally have access to the same robust assessment tools that have been available to teachers of English-speaking students for years.
Plus! When mCLASS Lectura and DIBELS 8th Edition are used together, teachers are empowered with a more holistic view of their Spanish-speaking students abilities in both English and Spanish, making instructional next steps more targeted and effective.
How is mCLASS Lectura different?
- It gives teachers access to authentic Spanish measures. Amplify is the only provider of the Lectura assessment. Rather than a direct translation of an English assessment, our solution is the only one to provide teachers a research-based, authentic Spanish assessment that is both valid and reliable.
- It makes it faster and easier to understand where every student is in their early literacy journey. By combining 1:1 observational diagnostic assessments, dyslexia screening, progress monitoring, instant scoring, rigorous reporting, automatic student grouping, and targeted instruction all in one place, it reduces the instructional delays associated with manual scoring, manual data analysis, and manual lesson planning.
- It brings more equity to the classroom. When used in conjunction with mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition, teachers have access to Dual Language Reports that highlight a students strengths and weaknesses in both English and Spanish.
- It makes every instructional minute count. In addition to one-minute measures that quickly gauge student progress toward reading proficiency, it leverages a teacher’s most powerful instructional tool — their own 1:1 observations.
- It drives growth more efficiently. Rather than relying on broad composite scores alone, granular data and in-depth insights for every student help teachers pinpoint exact skill gaps and areas of unfinished learning, making whole-group, small-group, and 1:1 instruction more targeted and effective.
- It saves teachers time. Instant reports, automatic student groups, and ready-to-teach lessons mean teachers spend less time cobbling together materials and more time working directly with students and responding to their needs.
Assessment systems must enable and compel educators to answer not just the “What?” questions, but also the “So What?” and “Now What?” questions. These are the questions that are essential in transforming classroom instruction, and the questions that mCLASS Lectura helps teachers answer with confidence.
How does mCLASS Lectura support screening for dyslexia risk?
mCLASS Lectura subtests have been specifically designed and validated to screen for dyslexia risks.
mCLASS Lectura was specifically developed to ensure the measure is able to meet state-level screening requirements for both dyslexia and universal reading screening. The research and development of Lectura was designed with this use in mind to accurately identify reading difficulties, including difficulties related to risk for dyslexia.
How does mCLASS Lectura turn data into instant action?
mCLASS Lectura gives you instant results and clear next steps for each student.
Quick and actionable reports provide detailed insight into students’ reading development across foundational literacy skills for teachers, specialists, administrators, and caregivers.

Diagnostic assessment
mCLASS Lectura analyzes individual student response data through a scoring algorithm which aligns to the Colorado Department of Education’s stated purpose of a diagnostic assessment.
Our innovative approach to diagnostic assessment leverages an item-level evaluation of individual student responses in order to provide deeper insights into specific student weaknesses and areas of improvement. mCLASS Lectura analyzes individual student response data through a scoring algorithm which aligns to the Colorado Department of Education’s stated purpose of a diagnostic: “… to pinpoint a student’s specific area(s) of weakness and provide in-depth information about students’ skills and instructional needs.”
Ready-to-teach instruction
Immediately following the analysis of individual student responses, mCLASS Lectura provides an in-depth diagnostic report complete with suggested next steps, also known as “mCLASS Instruction.”
mCLASS Instruction evaluates each student’s responses on each individual subtest and instantly:
- Provides a list of specific needs by student, such as struggling with medial vowel sounds or difficulty reading words with consonant blends.
- Groups students automatically based on similar discrete skill needs, not simply composite scores like other assessment tools.
- Recommends a variety of ready-to-teach lessons that specifically target each individual student’s areas of need or common areas of need for small-group instruction.
Classroom skill and benchmark summary
The Classroom Skill Summary report is a dashboard showing benchmark performance on each skill. Teachers can use it to determine which skill areas need instructional focus at a classroom level.
The Classroom Benchmark Summary report is a classroom-wide view of overall reading performance. Teachers can use this report to determine if composite scores improved, declined, or remained the same each semester.
Detailed benchmark performance
Teachers can see each student’s performance during the current school year, on each subtest as well as the overall composite. The benchmark goal displays below the subtest name when applicable. The ability to sort the columns in this report gives teachers more flexibility to analyze data the way they prefer.
Dual language reports
When mCLASS Lectura and mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition are used together, teachers will receive an asset-based picture of a student’s biliteracy and instructional guidance on how to leverage literacy skills in one language to support literacy skill development in the second language.
- Side-by-side view of foundational literacy skills in English and Spanish
- Explicit guidance to teachers to support asset-based instruction using cross-linguistic transfer strategies

Progress monitoring summary
See which subtests have been assessed since the most recent benchmark assessment, how students performed on the three most recent progress monitoring assessments for each measure, and which students have not been progress monitored since the benchmark assessment.
Colorado READ Plans
The Colorado READ Act places importance on considering students’ English proficiency and the impact it may have on assessment. Thus the READ Act provides an option for districts to assess Spanish-speaking students in their native language, who are not yet partially proficient in English.
Amplify recommends that a student who is categorized by the mCLASS Lectura composite score as “At High Risk” (denoted in all reports as “red”) be considered as potentially having a “Significant Reading Deficiency,” then further diagnosed using mCLASS’ Instruction diagnostics.
When devising a READ Plan, teachers and instructional staff should first consider students at high risk on mCLASS Lectura as potentially having a “Significant Reading Deficiency,” and eligible for a READ Plan. Students are then further diagnosed using mCLASS’ Instruction diagnostics. When devising a READ Plan, teachers can rely on the relevant mCLASS Instruction and Reports to comply with the READ Act.
Caregiver supports
The mCLASS Home Connect letter provides parent and caregivers information in English or Spanish about the student’s literacy and guidance on how to support their child at home.

Explore our self-guided tour
Our self-guided tour is a great way to orient yourself to the organization of our mCLASS platform. Click the button below to get started.

Contact us
Looking to speak directly with your Colorado representative? Get in touch with a team member by emailing HelloColorado@amplify.com or by calling us directly.
What is mCLASS?
mCLASS is a best-in-class assessment platform that houses a suite of proven, gold-standard assessment measures and tools that can be flexibly combined to meet the unique literacy needs of both teachers and students across grades K–6, including:
- Universal screening
- Diagnostic assessment
- Text Reading and Comprehension (a.k.a. running records via Amplify Atlas Español)
- Dyslexia screening
- Progress monitoring
- Dual language reporting
- Targeted teacher-led instruction
What is the Lectura assessment?
The Lectura assessment is a brand-new interim and diagnostic assessment that consists of measures based on the latest research of how Spanish literacy develops.
Co-developed with the Center on Teaching and Learning at the University of Oregon (UO CTL) and validated in partnership with Dr. Lillian Durán, the Lectura assessment was created to provide educators with a high-quality, evidence-based tool to support understanding of Spanish-speaking students’ biliteracy development, specifically foundational Spanish reading skills, which includes measures of phonological awareness, alphabetic understanding and decoding, reading fluency, and reading comprehension.
The measures in Lectura were written from the ground-up to assess students’ literacy development based on how Spanish literacy develops. Measures explicitly account for the syllabic and morphological structures of Spanish, and connected text was written and calibrated with respect to syntactical, lexical, and grammatical rules of Spanish. For example, phonological awareness is measured using syllable segmentation, and letter sounds and syllable reading are included in the decoding subtests for greater face-validity (in lieu of pseudowords). Word choice reflects the multisyllabic word complexity and variety of Spanish, driven by how decoding skills develop in Spanish. As such, Lectura provides instructionally actionable data for all students, including those scoring below the benchmark and those who meet or exceed the benchmark.
The Lectura assessment measures were purposefully designed, developed, field tested, and evaluated to address limitations that educators of Spanish speaking students have experienced in assessments. Specifically in these ways:
- Assessment measures based on current research on how Spanish literacy is developed
- Culturally responsive word choice and content reflecting the regional diversity of Spanish
- Technical adequacy established through rigorous study
- A sample size and geographic diversity reflecting the broad population of Spanish speakers across the U.S.
- Complete parity with English solutions (instructional tools, skill coverage)
Assessment measures by grade
| Lectura measures at each grade level | |||||
| Measure | Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grades 4–6 |
| Fluidez en nombrar letras | |||||
| Fluidez en la segmentación de sílabas | |||||
| ¿Qué queda? | |||||
| Fluidez en los sonidos de letras | |||||
| Fluidez en los sonidos de sílabas | |||||
| Fluidez en las palabras | |||||
| Fluidez en la lectura oral | |||||
| ¿Cuál palabra? | |||||
| Amplify measures at each grade level | |||||
| Oral Language Español | |||||
| Vocabulario | |||||
Assessment measures sample videos
Please note that the videos below are intended for illustrative purposes only. Performance levels in mCLASS Lectura have yet to be finalized.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en nombrar letras (FNL)
Students are asked to identify as many uppercase and lowercase letter names as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en los sonidos de letras (FSL)
Students are asked to identify the sounds of as many uppercase and lowercase letters as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en los sonidos de sílabas (LSS)
Students are presented with a page of printed orthographically regular Spanish syllables and asked to read as many syllables as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en la lectura oral (FLO)
Students are presented with an authentically written informational or narrative passage of Spanish connected text and asked to read as much of the passage as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: ¿Qué Queda? (QQ)
Students are presented with a word orally and then the examiner omits part of the word (i.e., compound word part, syllable, or phoneme). Students are asked to identify what word remains after the word part has been elided.
What makes mCLASS Lectura different?
mCLASS Lectura combines the power of the mCLASS assessment platform and the effectiveness of the Lectura assessment measures. As a result – educators are empowered with latest and greatest assessment tool.
More than a test, mCLASS Lectura is an integrated system that closes the knowing-doing gap by helping teachers take immediate instructional action that’s right for each and every student. What’s more, it addresses the classroom inequities Spanish-speaking students face along their early literacy journeys.
Spanish-speaking students have been underserved and misclassified for decades. With mCLASS Lectura, teachers of Spanish-speaking students finally have access to the same robust assessment tools that have been available to teachers of English-speaking students for years.
Plus! When mCLASS Lectura and DIBELS 8th Edition are used together, teachers are empowered with a more holistic view of their Spanish-speaking students abilities in both English and Spanish, making instructional next steps more targeted and effective.
What makes mCLASS Lectura different?
- It gives teachers access to authentic Spanish measures. Amplify is the only provider of the Lectura assessment. Rather than a direct translation of an English assessment, our solution is the only one to provide teachers a research-based, authentic Spanish assessment that is both valid and reliable.
- It makes it faster and easier to understand where every student is in their early literacy journey. By combining 1:1 observational diagnostic assessments, dyslexia screening, progress monitoring, instant scoring, rigorous reporting, automatic student grouping, and targeted instruction all in one place, it reduces the instructional delays associated with manual scoring, manual data analysis, and manual lesson planning.
- It brings more equity to the classroom. When used in conjunction with mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition, teachers have access to Dual Language Reports that highlight a students strengths and weaknesses in both English and Spanish.
- It makes every instructional minute count. In addition to one-minute measures that quickly gauge student progress toward reading proficiency, it leverages a teacher’s most powerful instructional tool — their own 1:1 observations.
- It drives growth more efficiently. Rather than relying on broad composite scores alone, granular data and in-depth insights for every student help teachers pinpoint exact skill gaps and areas of unfinished learning, making whole-group, small-group, and 1:1 instruction more targeted and effective.
- It saves teachers time. Instant reports, automatic student groups, and ready-to-teach lessons mean teachers spend less time cobbling together materials and more time working directly with students and responding to their needs.
Assessment systems must enable and compel educators to answer not just the “What?” questions, but also the “So What?” and “Now What?” questions. These are the questions that are essential in transforming classroom instruction, and the questions that mCLASS Lectura helps teachers answer with confidence.
How does mCLASS Lectura support screening for dyslexia risk?
mCLASS Lectura subtests have been specifically designed and validated to screen for dyslexia risks.
mCLASS Lectura was specifically developed to ensure the measure is able to meet state-level screening requirements for both dyslexia and universal reading screening. The research and development of Lectura was designed with this use in mind to accurately identify reading difficulties, including difficulties related to risk for dyslexia.
How does mCLASS Lectura support the use of running records?
Track your students’ reading progress from every angle with the Text Reading and Comprehension (TRC) assessment. When TRC is paired with the Lectura assessment, classroom teachers unlock the ability to record reading behaviors through running digital records. Available in English and Spanish, it measures reading comprehension and provides insight into how each student finds meaning in text.

How does mCLASS Lectura turn data into instant action?
mCLASS Lectura gives you instant results and clear next steps for each student.
Quick and actionable reports provide detailed insight into students’ reading development across foundational literacy skills for teachers, specialists, administrators, and caregivers.

Diagnostic assessment
mCLASS Lectura analyzes individual student response data through a proprietary scoring algorithm that pinpoints a student’s specific area(s) of growth and improvement, providing classroom teachers in-depth insight into a students’ instructional needs.
Ready-to-teach instruction
Immediately following the analysis of individual student responses, mCLASS Lectura provides an in-depth diagnostic report complete with suggested next steps, also known as “mCLASS Instruction.”
mCLASS Instruction evaluates each student’s responses on each individual subtest and instantly:
- Provides a list of specific needs by student, such as struggling with medial vowel sounds or difficulty reading words with consonant blends.
- Groups students automatically based on similar discrete skill needs, not simply composite scores like other assessment tools.
- Recommends a variety of ready-to-teach lessons that specifically target each individual student’s areas of need or common areas of need for small-group instruction.
Classroom skill and benchmark summary
The Classroom Skill Summary report is a dashboard showing benchmark performance on each skill. Teachers can use it to determine which skill areas need instructional focus at a classroom level.
The Classroom Benchmark Summary report is a classroom-wide view of overall reading performance. Teachers can use this report to determine if composite scores improved, declined, or remained the same each semester.
Detailed benchmark performance
Teachers can see each student’s performance during the current school year, on each subtest as well as the overall composite. The benchmark goal displays below the subtest name when applicable. The ability to sort the columns in this report gives teachers more flexibility to analyze data the way they prefer.
Dual language reports
When mCLASS Lectura and mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition are used together, teachers will receive an asset-based picture of a student’s biliteracy and instructional guidance on how to leverage literacy skills in one language to support literacy skill development in the second language.
- Side-by-side view of foundational literacy skills in English and Spanish
- Explicit guidance to teachers to support asset-based instruction using cross-linguistic transfer strategies

Progress monitoring summary
See which subtests have been assessed since the most recent benchmark assessment, how students performed on the three most recent progress monitoring assessments for each measure, and which students have not been progress monitored since the benchmark assessment.
Caregiver supports
The mCLASS Home Connect letter provides parent and caregivers information in English or Spanish about the student’s literacy and guidance on how to support their child at home.

What is mCLASS?
mCLASS is a best-in-class assessment platform that houses a suite of proven, gold-standard assessment measures and tools that can be flexibly combined to meet the unique literacy needs of both teachers and students across grades K–6, including:
- Universal screening
- Diagnostic assessment
- Text Reading and Comprehension (a.k.a. running records via Amplify Atlas Español)
- Dyslexia screening
- Progress monitoring
- Dual language reporting
- Targeted teacher-led instruction
What is the Lectura assessment?
The Lectura assessment is a brand-new interim and diagnostic assessment that consists of measures based on the latest research of how Spanish literacy develops.
Co-developed with the Center on Teaching and Learning at the University of Oregon (UO CTL) and validated in partnership with Dr. Lillian Durán, the Lectura assessment was created to provide educators with a high-quality, evidence-based tool to support understanding of Spanish-speaking students’ biliteracy development, specifically foundational Spanish reading skills, which includes measures of phonological awareness, alphabetic understanding and decoding, reading fluency, and reading comprehension.
The measures in Lectura were written from the ground-up to assess students’ literacy development based on how Spanish literacy develops. Measures explicitly account for the syllabic and morphological structures of Spanish, and connected text was written and calibrated with respect to syntactical, lexical, and grammatical rules of Spanish. For example, phonological awareness is measured using syllable segmentation, and letter sounds and syllable reading are included in the decoding subtests for greater face-validity (in lieu of pseudowords). Word choice reflects the multisyllabic word complexity and variety of Spanish, driven by how decoding skills develop in Spanish. As such, Lectura provides instructionally actionable data for all students, including those scoring below the benchmark and those who meet or exceed the benchmark.
The Lectura assessment measures were purposefully designed, developed, field tested, and evaluated to address limitations that educators of Spanish speaking students have experienced in assessments. Specifically in these ways:
- Assessment measures based on current research on how Spanish literacy is developed
- Culturally responsive word choice and content reflecting the regional diversity of Spanish
- Technical adequacy established through rigorous study
- A sample size and geographic diversity reflecting the broad population of Spanish speakers across the U.S.
- Complete parity with English solutions (instructional tools, skill coverage)
Assessment measures by grade
| Lectura measures at each grade level | |||||
| Measure | Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grades 4–6 |
| Fluidez en nombrar letras | |||||
| Fluidez en la segmentación de sílabas | |||||
| ¿Qué queda? | |||||
| Fluidez en los sonidos de letras | |||||
| Fluidez en los sonidos de sílabas | |||||
| Fluidez en las palabras | |||||
| Fluidez en la lectura oral | |||||
| ¿Cuál palabra? | |||||
| Amplify measures at each grade level | |||||
| Oral Language Español | |||||
| Vocabulario | |||||
Assessment measures sample videos
Please note that the videos below are intended for illustrative purposes only. Performance levels in mCLASS Lectura have yet to be finalized.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en nombrar letras (FNL)
Students are asked to identify as many uppercase and lowercase letter names as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en los sonidos de letras (FSL)
Students are asked to identify the sounds of as many uppercase and lowercase letters as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en los sonidos de sílabas (LSS)
Students are presented with a page of printed orthographically regular Spanish syllables and asked to read as many syllables as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en la lectura oral (FLO)
Students are presented with an authentically written informational or narrative passage of Spanish connected text and asked to read as much of the passage as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: ¿Qué Queda? (QQ)
Students are presented with a word orally and then the examiner omits part of the word (i.e., compound word part, syllable, or phoneme). Students are asked to identify what word remains after the word part has been elided.
What makes mCLASS Lectura different?
mCLASS Lectura combines the power of the mCLASS assessment platform and the effectiveness of the Lectura assessment measures. As a result – educators are empowered with latest and greatest assessment tool.
More than a test, mCLASS Lectura is an integrated system that closes the knowing-doing gap by helping teachers take immediate instructional action that’s right for each and every student. What’s more, it addresses the classroom inequities Spanish-speaking students face along their early literacy journeys.
Spanish-speaking students have been underserved and misclassified for decades. With mCLASS Lectura, teachers of Spanish-speaking students finally have access to the same robust assessment tools that have been available to teachers of English-speaking students for years.
Plus! When mCLASS Lectura and DIBELS 8th Edition are used together, teachers are empowered with a more holistic view of their Spanish-speaking students abilities in both English and Spanish, making instructional next steps more targeted and effective.
What makes mCLASS Lectura different?
- It gives teachers access to authentic Spanish measures. Amplify is the only provider of the Lectura assessment. Rather than a direct translation of an English assessment, our solution is the only one to provide teachers a research-based, authentic Spanish assessment that is both valid and reliable.
- It makes it faster and easier to understand where every student is in their early literacy journey. By combining 1:1 observational diagnostic assessments, dyslexia screening, progress monitoring, instant scoring, rigorous reporting, automatic student grouping, and targeted instruction all in one place, it reduces the instructional delays associated with manual scoring, manual data analysis, and manual lesson planning.
- It brings more equity to the classroom. When used in conjunction with mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition, teachers have access to Dual Language Reports that highlight a students strengths and weaknesses in both English and Spanish.
- It makes every instructional minute count. In addition to one-minute measures that quickly gauge student progress toward reading proficiency, it leverages a teacher’s most powerful instructional tool — their own 1:1 observations.
- It drives growth more efficiently. Rather than relying on broad composite scores alone, granular data and in-depth insights for every student help teachers pinpoint exact skill gaps and areas of unfinished learning, making whole-group, small-group, and 1:1 instruction more targeted and effective.
- It saves teachers time. Instant reports, automatic student groups, and ready-to-teach lessons mean teachers spend less time cobbling together materials and more time working directly with students and responding to their needs.
Assessment systems must enable and compel educators to answer not just the “What?” questions, but also the “So What?” and “Now What?” questions. These are the questions that are essential in transforming classroom instruction, and the questions that mCLASS Lectura helps teachers answer with confidence.
How does mCLASS Lectura support screening for dyslexia risk?
mCLASS Lectura subtests have been specifically designed and validated to screen for dyslexia risks.
mCLASS Lectura was specifically developed to ensure the measure is able to meet state-level screening requirements for both dyslexia and universal reading screening. The research and development of Lectura was designed with this use in mind to accurately identify reading difficulties, including difficulties related to risk for dyslexia.
How does mCLASS Lectura support the use of running records?
Track your students’ reading progress from every angle with the Text Reading and Comprehension (TRC) assessment. When TRC is paired with the Lectura assessment, classroom teachers unlock the ability to record reading behaviors through running digital records. Available in English and Spanish, it measures reading comprehension and provides insight into how each student finds meaning in text.

How does mCLASS Lectura turn data into instant action?
mCLASS Lectura gives you instant results and clear next steps for each student.
Quick and actionable reports provide detailed insight into students’ reading development across foundational literacy skills for teachers, specialists, administrators, and caregivers.

Diagnostic assessment
mCLASS Lectura analyzes individual student response data through a proprietary scoring algorithm that pinpoints a student’s specific area(s) of growth and improvement, providing classroom teachers in-depth insight into a students’ instructional needs.
Ready-to-teach instruction
Immediately following the analysis of individual student responses, mCLASS Lectura provides an in-depth diagnostic report complete with suggested next steps, also known as “mCLASS Instruction.”
mCLASS Instruction evaluates each student’s responses on each individual subtest and instantly:
- Provides a list of specific needs by student, such as struggling with medial vowel sounds or difficulty reading words with consonant blends.
- Groups students automatically based on similar discrete skill needs, not simply composite scores like other assessment tools.
- Recommends a variety of ready-to-teach lessons that specifically target each individual student’s areas of need or common areas of need for small-group instruction.
Classroom skill and benchmark summary
The Classroom Skill Summary report is a dashboard showing benchmark performance on each skill. Teachers can use it to determine which skill areas need instructional focus at a classroom level.
The Classroom Benchmark Summary report is a classroom-wide view of overall reading performance. Teachers can use this report to determine if composite scores improved, declined, or remained the same each semester.
Detailed benchmark performance
Teachers can see each student’s performance during the current school year, on each subtest as well as the overall composite. The benchmark goal displays below the subtest name when applicable. The ability to sort the columns in this report gives teachers more flexibility to analyze data the way they prefer.
Dual language reports
When mCLASS Lectura and mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition are used together, teachers will receive an asset-based picture of a student’s biliteracy and instructional guidance on how to leverage literacy skills in one language to support literacy skill development in the second language.
- Side-by-side view of foundational literacy skills in English and Spanish
- Explicit guidance to teachers to support asset-based instruction using cross-linguistic transfer strategies

Progress monitoring summary
See which subtests have been assessed since the most recent benchmark assessment, how students performed on the three most recent progress monitoring assessments for each measure, and which students have not been progress monitored since the benchmark assessment.
Caregiver supports
The mCLASS Home Connect letter provides parent and caregivers information in English or Spanish about the student’s literacy and guidance on how to support their child at home.

Clickable demo
Our clickable demo is a great way to orient yourself to the organization of our mCLASS platform and the mCLASS Lectura assessment. Click the button below to get started.

Here you will find 10 interactive screens:
- Screen 2: Scroll down to the class list. Find Gabriel Archulata. Click on his score for “Decodificación”.
- Screen 3: Explore Gabriel’s measure transcript. Then click on the gray arrow to the far right to advance to the next screen.
- Screen 4: Click on the “Instruction” tab.
- Screen 5: Scroll down to “Decoding Group 4” and click “See Activities”.
- Screen 6: Click on the first activity called “Identificar y leer palabras con los dígrafos ch y ll.”
- Screen 7: Click on the gray arrow to the far right to advance to the next screen.
- Screen 8: Explore the detailed “Student” tab and then click the “Dual Language” tab.
- Screen 9: Scroll down to the section about Gabriel’s phonological awareness skills. Click on the link called “Cross-Linguistic Transfer: Phonological Awareness”.
- Screen 10: Click on the gray arrow to the far right to advance to the next screen. Explore the “Home Connect” letter.
What is mCLASS?
mCLASS is a best-in-class assessment platform that houses a suite of proven, gold-standard assessment measures and tools that can be flexibly combined to meet the unique literacy needs of both teachers and students across grades K–6, including:
- Universal screening
- Diagnostic assessment
- Text Reading and Comprehension (a.k.a. running records via Amplify Atlas Español)
- Dyslexia screening
- Progress monitoring
- Dual language reporting
- Targeted teacher-led instruction
What is the Lectura assessment?
The Lectura assessment is a brand-new interim and diagnostic assessment that consists of measures based on the latest research of how Spanish literacy develops.
Co-developed with the Center on Teaching and Learning at the University of Oregon (UO CTL) and validated in partnership with Dr. Lillian Durán, the Lectura assessment was created to provide educators with a high-quality, evidence-based tool to support understanding of Spanish-speaking students’ biliteracy development, specifically foundational Spanish reading skills, which includes measures of phonological awareness, alphabetic understanding and decoding, reading fluency, and reading comprehension.
The measures in Lectura were written from the ground-up to assess students’ literacy development based on how Spanish literacy develops. Measures explicitly account for the syllabic and morphological structures of Spanish, and connected text was written and calibrated with respect to syntactical, lexical, and grammatical rules of Spanish. For example, phonological awareness is measured using syllable segmentation, and letter sounds and syllable reading are included in the decoding subtests for greater face-validity (in lieu of pseudowords). Word choice reflects the multisyllabic word complexity and variety of Spanish, driven by how decoding skills develop in Spanish. As such, Lectura provides instructionally actionable data for all students, including those scoring below the benchmark and those who meet or exceed the benchmark.
The Lectura assessment measures were purposefully designed, developed, field tested, and evaluated to address limitations that educators of Spanish speaking students have experienced in assessments. Specifically in these ways:
- Assessment measures based on current research on how Spanish literacy is developed
- Culturally responsive word choice and content reflecting the regional diversity of Spanish
- Technical adequacy established through rigorous study
- A sample size and geographic diversity reflecting the broad population of Spanish speakers across the U.S.
- Complete parity with English solutions (instructional tools, skill coverage)
Assessment measures by grade
| Lectura measures at each grade level | |||||
| Measure | Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grades 4–6 |
| Fluidez en nombrar letras | |||||
| Fluidez en la segmentación de sílabas | |||||
| ¿Qué queda? | |||||
| Fluidez en los sonidos de letras | |||||
| Fluidez en los sonidos de sílabas | |||||
| Fluidez en las palabras | |||||
| Fluidez en la lectura oral | |||||
| ¿Cuál palabra? | |||||
| Amplify measures at each grade level | |||||
| Oral Language Español | |||||
| Vocabulario | |||||
Assessment measures sample videos
Please note that the videos below are intended for illustrative purposes only. Performance levels in mCLASS Lectura have yet to be finalized.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en nombrar letras (FNL)
Students are asked to identify as many uppercase and lowercase letter names as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en los sonidos de letras (FSL)
Students are asked to identify the sounds of as many uppercase and lowercase letters as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en los sonidos de sílabas (LSS)
Students are presented with a page of printed orthographically regular Spanish syllables and asked to read as many syllables as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en la lectura oral (FLO)
Students are presented with an authentically written informational or narrative passage of Spanish connected text and asked to read as much of the passage as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: ¿Qué Queda? (QQ)
Students are presented with a word orally and then the examiner omits part of the word (i.e., compound word part, syllable, or phoneme). Students are asked to identify what word remains after the word part has been elided.
What makes mCLASS Lectura different?
mCLASS Lectura combines the power of the mCLASS assessment platform and the effectiveness of the Lectura assessment measures. As a result – educators are empowered with latest and greatest assessment tool.
More than a test, mCLASS Lectura is an integrated system that closes the knowing-doing gap by helping teachers take immediate instructional action that’s right for each and every student. What’s more, it addresses the classroom inequities Spanish-speaking students face along their early literacy journeys.
Spanish-speaking students have been underserved and misclassified for decades. With mCLASS Lectura, teachers of Spanish-speaking students finally have access to the same robust assessment tools that have been available to teachers of English-speaking students for years.
Plus! When mCLASS Lectura and DIBELS 8th Edition are used together, teachers are empowered with a more holistic view of their Spanish-speaking students abilities in both English and Spanish, making instructional next steps more targeted and effective.
What makes mCLASS Lectura different?
- It gives teachers access to authentic Spanish measures. Amplify is the only provider of the Lectura assessment. Rather than a direct translation of an English assessment, our solution is the only one to provide teachers a research-based, authentic Spanish assessment that is both valid and reliable.
- It makes it faster and easier to understand where every student is in their early literacy journey. By combining 1:1 observational diagnostic assessments, dyslexia screening, progress monitoring, instant scoring, rigorous reporting, automatic student grouping, and targeted instruction all in one place, it reduces the instructional delays associated with manual scoring, manual data analysis, and manual lesson planning.
- It brings more equity to the classroom. When used in conjunction with mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition, teachers have access to Dual Language Reports that highlight a students strengths and weaknesses in both English and Spanish.
- It makes every instructional minute count. In addition to one-minute measures that quickly gauge student progress toward reading proficiency, it leverages a teacher’s most powerful instructional tool — their own 1:1 observations.
- It drives growth more efficiently. Rather than relying on broad composite scores alone, granular data and in-depth insights for every student help teachers pinpoint exact skill gaps and areas of unfinished learning, making whole-group, small-group, and 1:1 instruction more targeted and effective.
- It saves teachers time. Instant reports, automatic student groups, and ready-to-teach lessons mean teachers spend less time cobbling together materials and more time working directly with students and responding to their needs.
Assessment systems must enable and compel educators to answer not just the “What?” questions, but also the “So What?” and “Now What?” questions. These are the questions that are essential in transforming classroom instruction, and the questions that mCLASS Lectura helps teachers answer with confidence.
How does mCLASS Lectura support screening for dyslexia risk?
mCLASS Lectura subtests have been specifically designed and validated to screen for dyslexia risks.
mCLASS Lectura was specifically developed to ensure the measure is able to meet state-level screening requirements for both dyslexia and universal reading screening. The research and development of Lectura was designed with this use in mind to accurately identify reading difficulties, including difficulties related to risk for dyslexia.
How does mCLASS Lectura support the use of running records?
Track your students’ reading progress from every angle with the Text Reading and Comprehension (TRC) assessment. When TRC is paired with the Lectura assessment, classroom teachers unlock the ability to record reading behaviors through running digital records. Available in English and Spanish, it measures reading comprehension and provides insight into how each student finds meaning in text.

How does mCLASS Lectura turn data into instant action?
mCLASS Lectura gives you instant results and clear next steps for each student.
Quick and actionable reports provide detailed insight into students’ reading development across foundational literacy skills for teachers, specialists, administrators, and caregivers.

Diagnostic assessment
mCLASS Lectura analyzes individual student response data through a proprietary scoring algorithm that pinpoints a student’s specific area(s) of growth and improvement, providing classroom teachers in-depth insight into a students’ instructional needs.
Ready-to-teach instruction
Immediately following the analysis of individual student responses, mCLASS Lectura provides an in-depth diagnostic report complete with suggested next steps, also known as “mCLASS Instruction.”
mCLASS Instruction evaluates each student’s responses on each individual subtest and instantly:
- Provides a list of specific needs by student, such as struggling with medial vowel sounds or difficulty reading words with consonant blends.
- Groups students automatically based on similar discrete skill needs, not simply composite scores like other assessment tools.
- Recommends a variety of ready-to-teach lessons that specifically target each individual student’s areas of need or common areas of need for small-group instruction.
Classroom skill and benchmark summary
The Classroom Skill Summary report is a dashboard showing benchmark performance on each skill. Teachers can use it to determine which skill areas need instructional focus at a classroom level.
The Classroom Benchmark Summary report is a classroom-wide view of overall reading performance. Teachers can use this report to determine if composite scores improved, declined, or remained the same each semester.
Detailed benchmark performance
Teachers can see each student’s performance during the current school year, on each subtest as well as the overall composite. The benchmark goal displays below the subtest name when applicable. The ability to sort the columns in this report gives teachers more flexibility to analyze data the way they prefer.
Dual language reports
When mCLASS Lectura and mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition are used together, teachers will receive an asset-based picture of a student’s biliteracy and instructional guidance on how to leverage literacy skills in one language to support literacy skill development in the second language.
- Side-by-side view of foundational literacy skills in English and Spanish
- Explicit guidance to teachers to support asset-based instruction using cross-linguistic transfer strategies

Progress monitoring summary
See which subtests have been assessed since the most recent benchmark assessment, how students performed on the three most recent progress monitoring assessments for each measure, and which students have not been progress monitored since the benchmark assessment.
Caregiver supports
The mCLASS Home Connect letter provides parent and caregivers information in English or Spanish about the student’s literacy and guidance on how to support their child at home.

Clickable demo
Our clickable demo is a great way to orient yourself to the organization of our mCLASS platform and the mCLASS Lectura assessment. Click the button below to get started.

Here you will find 10 interactive screens:
- Screen 2: Scroll down to the class list. Find Gabriel Archulata. Click on his score for “Decodificación”.
- Screen 3: Explore Gabriel’s measure transcript. Then click on the gray arrow to the far right to advance to the next screen.
- Screen 4: Click on the “Instruction” tab.
- Screen 5: Scroll down to “Decoding Group 4” and click “See Activities”.
- Screen 6: Click on the first activity called “Identificar y leer palabras con los dígrafos ch y ll.”
- Screen 7: Click on the gray arrow to the far right to advance to the next screen.
- Screen 8: Explore the detailed “Student” tab and then click the “Dual Language” tab.
- Screen 9: Scroll down to the section about Gabriel’s phonological awareness skills. Click on the link called “Cross-Linguistic Transfer: Phonological Awareness”.
- Screen 10: Click on the gray arrow to the far right to advance to the next screen. Explore the “Home Connect” letter.
What is mCLASS?
mCLASS is a best-in-class assessment platform that houses a suite of proven, gold-standard assessment measures and tools that can be flexibly combined to meet the unique literacy needs of both teachers and students across grades K–6, including:
- Universal screening
- Diagnostic assessment
- Dyslexia screening
- Progress monitoring
- Dual language reporting
- Quick 1-minute assessment measures
- Real-time results, instant analysis, automatic student grouping
- Targeted teacher-led instruction with ready-to-use mini-lessons
What is the Lectura assessment?
The Lectura assessment is a brand-new interim and diagnostic assessment that consists of measures based on the latest research of how Spanish literacy develops.
Co-developed with the Center on Teaching and Learning at the University of Oregon (UO CTL) and validated in partnership with Dr. Lillian Durán, the Lectura assessment was created to provide educators with a high-quality, evidence-based tool to support understanding of Spanish-speaking students’ biliteracy development, specifically foundational Spanish reading skills, which includes measures of phonological awareness, alphabetic understanding and decoding, reading fluency, and reading comprehension.
The measures in Lectura were written from the ground-up to assess students’ literacy development based on how Spanish literacy develops. Measures explicitly account for the syllabic and morphological structures of Spanish, and connected text was written and calibrated with respect to syntactical, lexical, and grammatical rules of Spanish. For example, phonological awareness is measured using syllable segmentation, and letter sounds and syllable reading are included in the decoding subtests for greater face-validity (in lieu of pseudowords). Word choice reflects the multisyllabic word complexity and variety of Spanish, driven by how decoding skills develop in Spanish. As such, Lectura provides instructionally actionable data for all students, including those scoring below the benchmark and those who meet or exceed the benchmark.
The Lectura assessment measures were purposefully designed, developed, field tested, and evaluated to address limitations that educators of Spanish speaking students have experienced in assessments. Specifically in these ways:
- Assessment measures based on current research on how Spanish literacy is developed
- Culturally responsive word choice and content reflecting the regional diversity of Spanish
- Technical adequacy established through rigorous study
- A sample size and geographic diversity reflecting the broad population of Spanish speakers across the U.S.
- Complete parity with English solutions (instructional tools, skill coverage)
Assessment measures by grade
| Lectura measures at each grade level | ||||
| Measure | Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 |
| Fluidez en nombrar letras | ||||
| Fluidez en la segmentación de sílabas | ||||
| ¿Qué queda? | ||||
| Fluidez en los sonidos de letras | ||||
| Fluidez en los sonidos de sílabas | ||||
| Fluidez en las palabras | ||||
| Fluidez en la lectura oral | ||||
| ¿Cuál palabra? | ||||
| Amplify measures at each grade level | ||||
| Oral Language Español | ||||
| Vocabulario | ||||
Assessment measures sample videos
Please note that the videos below are intended for illustrative purposes only. Performance levels in mCLASS Lectura have yet to be finalized.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en nombrar letras (FNL)
Students are asked to identify as many uppercase and lowercase letter names as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en los sonidos de letras (FSL)
Students are asked to identify the sounds of as many uppercase and lowercase letters as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en los sonidos de sílabas (LSS)
Students are presented with a page of printed orthographically regular Spanish syllables and asked to read as many syllables as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en la lectura oral (FLO)
Students are presented with an authentically written informational or narrative passage of Spanish connected text and asked to read as much of the passage as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: ¿Qué Queda? (QQ)
Students are presented with a word orally and then the examiner omits part of the word (i.e., compound word part, syllable, or phoneme). Students are asked to identify what word remains after the word part has been elided.
How is mCLASS Lectura different?
mCLASS Lectura combines the power of the mCLASS assessment platform and the effectiveness of the Lectura assessment measures. As a result – educators across the state are empowered with latest and greatest assessment tool.
More than a test, mCLASS Lectura is an integrated system that closes the knowing-doing gap by helping teachers take immediate instructional action that’s right for each and every student. What’s more, it addresses the classroom inequities Spanish-speaking students face along their early literacy journeys.
Spanish-speaking students have been underserved and misclassified for decades. With mCLASS Lectura, teachers of Spanish-speaking students finally have access to the same robust assessment tools that have been available to teachers of English-speaking students for years.
Plus! When mCLASS Lectura and DIBELS 8th Edition are used together, teachers are empowered with a more holistic view of their Spanish-speaking students abilities in both English and Spanish, making instructional next steps more targeted and effective.
How is mCLASS Lectura different?
- It gives teachers access to authentic Spanish measures. Amplify is the only provider of the Lectura assessment. Rather than a direct translation of an English assessment, our solution is the only one to provide teachers a research-based, authentic Spanish assessment that is both valid and reliable.
- It makes it faster and easier to understand where every student is in their early literacy journey. By combining 1:1 observational diagnostic assessments, dyslexia screening, progress monitoring, instant scoring, rigorous reporting, automatic student grouping, and targeted instruction all in one place, it reduces the instructional delays associated with manual scoring, manual data analysis, and manual lesson planning.
- It brings more equity to the classroom. When used in conjunction with mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition, teachers have access to Dual Language Reports that highlight a students strengths and weaknesses in both English and Spanish.
- It makes every instructional minute count. In addition to one-minute measures that quickly gauge student progress toward reading proficiency, it leverages a teacher’s most powerful instructional tool — their own 1:1 observations.
- It drives growth more efficiently. Rather than relying on broad composite scores alone, granular data and in-depth insights for every student help teachers pinpoint exact skill gaps and areas of unfinished learning, making whole-group, small-group, and 1:1 instruction more targeted and effective.
- It saves teachers time. Instant reports, automatic student groups, and ready-to-teach lessons mean teachers spend less time cobbling together materials and more time working directly with students and responding to their needs.
Assessment systems must enable and compel educators to answer not just the “What?” questions, but also the “So What?” and “Now What?” questions. These are the questions that are essential in transforming classroom instruction, and the questions that mCLASS Lectura helps teachers answer with confidence.
How does mCLASS Lectura support screening for dyslexia risk?
mCLASS Lectura subtests have been specifically designed and validated to screen for dyslexia risks.
mCLASS Lectura was specifically developed to ensure the measure is able to meet state-level screening requirements for both dyslexia and universal reading screening. The research and development of Lectura was designed with this use in mind to accurately identify reading difficulties, including difficulties related to risk for dyslexia.
How does mCLASS Lectura turn data into instant action?
mCLASS Lectura gives you instant results and clear next steps for each student.
Quick and actionable reports provide detailed insight into students’ reading development across foundational literacy skills for teachers, specialists, administrators, and caregivers.

Diagnostic assessment
mCLASS Lectura analyzes individual student response data through a innovative scoring algorithm that leverages an item-level evaluation of individual student responses in order to provide deeper insights into specific student weaknesses and areas of improvement.
Ready-to-teach instruction
Immediately following the analysis of individual student responses, mCLASS Lectura provides an in-depth diagnostic report complete with suggested next steps, also known as “mCLASS Instruction.”
mCLASS Instruction evaluates each student’s responses on each individual subtest and instantly:
- Provides a list of specific needs by student, such as struggling with medial vowel sounds or difficulty reading words with consonant blends.
- Groups students automatically based on similar discrete skill needs, not simply composite scores like other assessment tools.
- Recommends a variety of ready-to-teach lessons that specifically target each individual student’s areas of need or common areas of need for small-group instruction.
Classroom skill and benchmark summary
The Classroom Skill Summary report is a dashboard showing benchmark performance on each skill. Teachers can use it to determine which skill areas need instructional focus at a classroom level.
The Classroom Benchmark Summary report is a classroom-wide view of overall reading performance. Teachers can use this report to determine if composite scores improved, declined, or remained the same each semester.
Detailed benchmark performance
Teachers can see each student’s performance during the current school year, on each subtest as well as the overall composite. The benchmark goal displays below the subtest name when applicable. The ability to sort the columns in this report gives teachers more flexibility to analyze data the way they prefer.
Dual language reports
When mCLASS Lectura and mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition are used together, teachers will receive an asset-based picture of a student’s biliteracy and instructional guidance on how to leverage literacy skills in one language to support literacy skill development in the second language.
- Side-by-side view of foundational literacy skills in English and Spanish
- Explicit guidance to teachers to support asset-based instruction using cross-linguistic transfer strategies

Progress monitoring summary
See which subtests have been assessed since the most recent benchmark assessment, how students performed on the three most recent progress monitoring assessments for each measure, and which students have not been progress monitored since the benchmark assessment.
Caregiver supports
The mCLASS Home Connect letter provides parent and caregivers information in English or Spanish about the student’s literacy and guidance on how to support their child at home.

Explore our self-guided tour
Our self-guided tour is a great way to orient yourself to the organization of our mCLASS platform. Click the button below to get started.

What is mCLASS?
mCLASS is a best-in-class assessment platform that houses a suite of proven, gold-standard assessment measures and tools that can be flexibly combined to meet the unique literacy needs of both teachers and students across grades K–6, including:
- Universal screening
- Diagnostic assessment
- Dyslexia screening
- Progress monitoring
- Dual language reporting
- Targeted teacher-led instruction
What is the Lectura assessment?
The Lectura assessment is a brand-new interim and diagnostic assessment that consists of measures based on the latest research of how Spanish literacy develops.
Co-developed with the Center on Teaching and Learning at the University of Oregon (UO CTL) and validated in partnership with Dr. Lillian Durán, the Lectura assessment was created to provide educators with a high-quality, evidence-based tool to support understanding of Spanish-speaking students’ biliteracy development, specifically foundational Spanish reading skills, which includes measures of phonological awareness, alphabetic understanding and decoding, reading fluency, and reading comprehension.
The measures in Lectura were written from the ground-up to assess students’ literacy development based on how Spanish literacy develops. Measures explicitly account for the syllabic and morphological structures of Spanish, and connected text was written and calibrated with respect to syntactical, lexical, and grammatical rules of Spanish. For example, phonological awareness is measured using syllable segmentation, and letter sounds and syllable reading are included in the decoding subtests for greater face-validity (in lieu of pseudowords). Word choice reflects the multisyllabic word complexity and variety of Spanish, driven by how decoding skills develop in Spanish. As such, Lectura provides instructionally actionable data for all students, including those scoring below the benchmark and those who meet or exceed the benchmark.
The Lectura assessment measures were purposefully designed, developed, field tested, and evaluated to address limitations that educators of Spanish speaking students have experienced in assessments. Specifically in these ways:
- Assessment measures based on current research on how Spanish literacy is developed
- Culturally responsive word choice and content reflecting the regional diversity of Spanish
- Technical adequacy established through rigorous study
- A sample size and geographic diversity reflecting the broad population of Spanish speakers across the U.S.
- Complete parity with English solutions (instructional tools, skill coverage)
Assessment measures by grade
| Lectura measures at each grade level | ||||
| Measure | Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 |
| Fluidez en nombrar letras | ![]() | |||
| Fluidez en la segmentación de sílabas | ||||
| ¿Qué queda? | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
| Fluidez en los sonidos de letras | ||||
| Fluidez en los sonidos de sílabas | ||||
| Fluidez en las palabras | ||||
| Fluidez en la lectura oral | ||||
| ¿Cuál palabra? | ![]() | |||
| Amplify measures at each grade level | ||||
| Oral Language Español | ||||
| Vocabulario | ||||
Assessment measures sample videos
Please note that the videos below are intended for illustrative purposes only. Performance levels in mCLASS Lectura have yet to be finalized.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en nombrar letras (FNL)
Students are asked to identify as many uppercase and lowercase letter names as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en los sonidos de letras (FSL)
Students are asked to identify the sounds of as many uppercase and lowercase letters as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en los sonidos de sílabas (LSS)
Students are presented with a page of printed orthographically regular Spanish syllables and asked to read as many syllables as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en la lectura oral (FLO)
Students are presented with an authentically written informational or narrative passage of Spanish connected text and asked to read as much of the passage as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: ¿Qué Queda? (QQ)
Students are presented with a word orally and then the examiner omits part of the word (i.e., compound word part, syllable, or phoneme). Students are asked to identify what word remains after the word part has been elided.
How is mCLASS Lectura different?
mCLASS Lectura combines the power of the mCLASS assessment platform and the effectiveness of the Lectura assessment measures. As a result – educators across the state are empowered with latest and greatest assessment tool.
More than a test, mCLASS Lectura is an integrated system that closes the knowing-doing gap by helping teachers take immediate instructional action that’s right for each and every student. What’s more, it addresses the classroom inequities Spanish-speaking students face along their early literacy journeys.
Spanish-speaking students have been underserved and misclassified for decades. With mCLASS Lectura, teachers of Spanish-speaking students finally have access to the same robust assessment tools that have been available to teachers of English-speaking students for years.
Plus! When mCLASS Lectura and DIBELS 8th Edition are used together, teachers are empowered with a more holistic view of their Spanish-speaking students abilities in both English and Spanish, making instructional next steps more targeted and effective.
How is mCLASS Lectura different?
- It gives teachers access to authentic Spanish measures. Amplify is the only provider of the Lectura assessment. Rather than a direct translation of an English assessment, our solution is the only one to provide teachers a research-based, authentic Spanish assessment that is both valid and reliable.
- It makes it faster and easier to understand where every student is in their early literacy journey. By combining 1:1 observational diagnostic assessments, dyslexia screening, progress monitoring, instant scoring, rigorous reporting, automatic student grouping, and targeted instruction all in one place, it reduces the instructional delays associated with manual scoring, manual data analysis, and manual lesson planning.
- It brings more equity to the classroom. When used in conjunction with mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition, teachers have access to Dual Language Reports that highlight a student’s strengths and weaknesses in both English and Spanish.
- It makes every instructional minute count. In addition to one-minute measures that quickly gauge student progress toward reading proficiency, it leverages a teacher’s most powerful instructional tool — their own 1:1 observations.
- It drives growth more efficiently. Rather than relying on broad composite scores alone, granular data and in-depth insights for every student help teachers pinpoint exact skill gaps and areas of unfinished learning, making whole-group, small-group, and 1:1 instruction more targeted and effective.
- It saves teachers time. Instant reports, automatic student groups, and ready-to-teach lessons mean teachers spend less time cobbling together materials and more time working directly with students and responding to their needs.
Assessment systems must enable and compel educators to answer not just the “What?” questions, but also the “So What?” and “Now What?” questions. These are the questions that are essential in transforming classroom instruction, and the questions that mCLASS Lectura helps teachers answer with confidence.
How does mCLASS Lectura support screening for dyslexia risk?
mCLASS Lectura subtests have been specifically designed and validated to screen for dyslexia risks.
mCLASS Lectura was specifically developed to ensure the measure is able to meet state-level screening requirements for both dyslexia and universal reading screening. The research and development of Lectura was designed with this use in mind to accurately identify reading difficulties, including difficulties related to risk for dyslexia.
How does mCLASS Lectura turn data into instant action?
mCLASS Lectura gives you instant results and clear next steps for each student.
Quick and actionable reports provide detailed insight into students’ reading development across foundational literacy skills for teachers, specialists, administrators, and caregivers.

Diagnostic assessment
mCLASS Lectura analyzes individual student response data through a scoring algorithm which aligns to the Colorado Department of Education’s stated purpose of a diagnostic assessment.
Our innovative approach to diagnostic assessment leverages an item-level evaluation of individual student responses in order to provide deeper insights into specific student weaknesses and areas of improvement. mCLASS Lectura analyzes individual student response data through a scoring algorithm which aligns to the Colorado Department of Education’s stated purpose of a diagnostic: “… to pinpoint a student’s specific area(s) of weakness and provide in-depth information about students’ skills and instructional needs.”
Ready-to-teach instruction
Immediately following the analysis of individual student responses, mCLASS Lectura provides an in-depth diagnostic report complete with suggested next steps, also known as “mCLASS Instruction.”
mCLASS Instruction evaluates each student’s responses on each individual subtest and instantly:
- Provides a list of specific needs by student, such as struggling with medial vowel sounds or difficulty reading words with consonant blends.
- Groups students automatically based on similar discrete skill needs, not simply composite scores like other assessment tools.
- Recommends a variety of ready-to-teach lessons that specifically target each individual student’s areas of need or common areas of need for small-group instruction.
Classroom skill and benchmark summary
The Classroom Skill Summary report is a dashboard showing benchmark performance on each skill. Teachers can use it to determine which skill areas need instructional focus at a classroom level.
The Classroom Benchmark Summary report is a classroom-wide view of overall reading performance. Teachers can use this report to determine if composite scores improved, declined, or remained the same each semester.
Detailed benchmark performance
Teachers can see each student’s performance during the current school year, on each subtest as well as the overall composite. The benchmark goal displays below the subtest name when applicable. The ability to sort the columns in this report gives teachers more flexibility to analyze data the way they prefer.
Dual language reports
When mCLASS Lectura and mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition are used together, teachers will receive an asset-based picture of a student’s biliteracy and instructional guidance on how to leverage literacy skills in one language to support literacy skill development in the second language.
- Side-by-side view of foundational literacy skills in English and Spanish
- Explicit guidance to teachers to support asset-based instruction using cross-linguistic transfer strategies

Progress monitoring summary
See which subtests have been assessed since the most recent benchmark assessment, how students performed on the three most recent progress monitoring assessments for each measure, and which students have not been progress monitored since the benchmark assessment.
Colorado READ Plans
The Colorado READ Act places importance on considering students’ English proficiency and the impact it may have on assessment. Thus the READ Act provides an option for districts to assess Spanish-speaking students in their native language, who are not yet partially proficient in English.
Amplify recommends that a student who is categorized by the mCLASS Lectura composite score as “At High Risk” (denoted in all reports as “red”) be considered as potentially having a “Significant Reading Deficiency,” then further diagnosed using mCLASS’ Instruction diagnostics.
When devising a READ Plan, teachers and instructional staff should first consider students at high risk on mCLASS Lectura as potentially having a “Significant Reading Deficiency,” and eligible for a READ Plan. Students are then further diagnosed using mCLASS’ Instruction diagnostics. When devising a READ Plan, teachers can rely on the relevant mCLASS Instruction and Reports to comply with the READ Act.
Caregiver supports
The mCLASS Home Connect letter provides parent and caregivers information in English or Spanish about the student’s literacy and guidance on how to support their child at home.

Explore our self-guided tour
Our self-guided tour is a great way to orient yourself to the organization of our mCLASS platform. Click the button below to get started.

Top 10 Science of Reading podcasts to get you started

Since 2019, Science of Reading: The Podcast has delivered the latest insights from researchers and practitioners in early reading. Hosted by Amplify’s Chief Academic Officer Susan Lambert, each episode welcomes a renowned leader in the education and literacy community, explores a timely topic related to the Science of Reading, and offers instructional advice to educators implementing evidence-based practices in their schools.
New to the podcast? Here are 10 popular episodes to acquaint yourself with the Science of Reading. Listen, enjoy, and subscribe — we have new episodes every other Wednesday!
S1-E1: Natalie Wexler on “The Knowledge Gap”
Susan hosts Natalie Wexler for a deep dive into her latest book, The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System—And How to Fix It, and a discussion of the lack of equity in reading education among students, the benefits of knowledge-rich curriculum inside and beyond the classroom, why it’s important to build background knowledge while teaching foundational skills, and why professional development doesn’t seem to be making a difference and how it can be improved.
S1-E3: Emily Hanford on reporting on education and the Science of Reading
Susan sits down with Emily Hanford, education reporter and host of the Education Post podcast, to examine the big takeaways from her experience reporting on dyslexia and the patterns that emerged in her investigation; why reading instruction isn’t more aligned with the Science of Reading; and the evolution of whole language, balanced literacy, and phonics instruction.
S1-E8: Tim Shanahan on evidence-based literacy practices
Reading expert Tim Shanahan discusses his view on teaching reading, including an explanation of the four crucial things you need to teach reading, and what it means to really do a “close read” in literature.
S3-E1: Dr. Jane Oakhill on Scarborough’s Reading Rope
Dive into the first episode of our Deconstructing the Rope series as Dr. Jane Oakhill, professor of experimental psychology at the University of Sussex, provides an overview of Scarborough’s Reading Rope. She also emphasizes the importance of inferencing in comprehension, why the Simple View of Reading is still relevant almost 40 years later, and how each element of the Rope comes together to deconstruct the complexity of reading.
S3-E3: Dr. Louisa Moats on decoding
Join Dr. Louisa Moats, President of Moats Associates Consulting, as she unwinds decoding, a strand of Scarborough’s Reading Rope. In the third episode of our Deconstructing the Rope series, Louisa highlights the significance of decoding in the Science of Reading and discusses the value of becoming students of our own language. She also explains the reciprocal relationship between decoding and encoding and why both are essential to provide effective phonics instruction to children in the classroom.
S2-E7: Sonia Cabell on research, comprehension, and content-rich literacy instruction
Join Sonia Cabell, Assistant Professor of Education at Florida State University, as she shares findings from her research trials on content-rich literacy curricula and whether activating students’ background knowledge alongside explicit phonics instruction is more effective than traditional approaches. She also explains what constitutes “compelling evidence” in the Science of Reading and why students need to interact with both written and spoken language while learning to read.
S3-E5: Dr. Bruce McCandliss on sight recognition
Join Dr. Bruce McCandliss, Professor at the Graduate School of Education of Stanford University, as he unwinds sight recognition, a strand of Scarborough’s Reading Rope. In the fifth episode of our series, Bruce explains the role of sight and word recognition in the Science of Reading and highlights the importance of the rapid integration of print, speech, and meaning. He also encourages listeners to be cognizant of the ever-changing technological learning environment while nurturing young readers and writers.
S2-E1: Dr. LaTonya Goffney on a district-wide SoR adoption
Join Dr. LaTonya Goffney, Superintendent of Schools for Aldine Independent School District in Texas, as she recounts her two-year journey with her team of district educators to adopt a new early literacy curriculum. Hear how they successfully challenged the traditional adoption process, studied the science of teaching reading, analyzed student data and experiences, and developed a district-wide set of beliefs and expectations.
S3-E7: Maria Murray on The Reading League’s Defining Movement
In this special episode, Dr. Maria Murray, President, and CEO of The Reading League analyze the intricacies of literacy instruction and shares common misconceptions that educators have about the Science of Reading. She also explains why the Science of Reading: A Defining Movement coalition was founded: the belief in a clear understanding of what the Science of Reading is and what it is not, in order to promote the proper use of instructional practices aligned with its findings.
S5.E6. Why skepticism is essential to the Science of Reading, with Dr. Claude Goldenberg
K–12 education podcasts
Amplify is proud to showcase cutting-edge research and insights in K–12 education. Explore our popular podcasts in literacy, math, and science; learn from top thought leaders and educators; and discover cross-disciplinary insights to support your instruction.

Science of Reading: The Podcast
Science of Reading delivers the latest insights from researchers and practitioners in early reading. In each Science of Reading episode, host Susan Lambert, Ed.D., Amplify’s chief academic officer of elementary humanities, explores the increasing body of scientific research around how reading is best taught.
Beyond My Years
Host and educator Ana Torres knows firsthand how hard it is to be a teacher. That’s why, in our podcast Beyond My Years, she seeks out educational insights from people who’ve thrived for decades in the classroom: seasoned educators. Sharing their biggest victories and a few lessons they wish they’d learned sooner, these longtime educators prepare listeners for their own teaching journeys. Hear stories that make you cry, make you laugh—and may even change the way you think.
Math Teacher Lounge
Math Teacher Lounge is a podcast created specifically for K–12 math educators. In each episode co-hosts Bethany Lockhart Johnson (@lockhartedu) and Dan Meyer (@ddmeyer) chat with guests, taking a deep dive into the math and educational topics you care about.
Join Math Teacher Lounge: The Community on Facebook to continue the conversation, view exclusive content, interact with fellow educators, participate in giveaways, and more!
Science Connections
Join our host Eric Cross as he sits down with educators, scientists, and knowledge experts on ways to best support students in science classrooms. Hear how to inspire kids across the country to love learning science, and how you can bring that magic into your classroom for your students.

Read about our all-green programs on EdReports.
See what the evaluators at EdReports have to say about Amplify’s high-quality curriculum.
Dyslexia Screening: The Latest Trends and Advancements
Webinar: The Latest on The Knowledge Gap
Our research
mCLASS Math
mCLASS® Math is a complete K–8 benchmark and progress monitoring assessment system. Developed by a team of researchers, mCLASS Math has undergone rigorous psychometric validity studies and is backed by a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework and the latest iteration of curriculum-based measurement tools.
Efficacy
Research base

Explore more of our research.
Learn more about the research behind our programs.
Dear new teacher:
How problem-based learning can transform the math classroom

With test scores and student engagement on the decline, it’s clear that traditional teaching methods aren’t meeting the needs of all of today’s math learners.
One solution that’s gaining momentum is problem-based learning. By focusing on real-world problems and structured approaches, this approach develops critical thinking, reasoning, and application—skills that are essential for math success.
But making this shift isn’t easy. For math teachers and educators, it requires careful planning, a clear strategy, and community commitment.
That’s why we’re here to help.
The decline in test scores and engagement
The latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results show a sharp decline in math proficiency across grade levels. Only 26% of eighth graders performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in 2022. These results represent the largest score declines in NAEP mathematics at grades 4 and 8 since initial assessments in 1990. The pandemic didn’t help, but it’s not the only factor.
This downward trend is compounded by a sense of disengagement. According to YouthTruth’s report Making Sense of Learning Math: Insights from the Student Experience, only half of students feel that what they’re learning in math connects to the real world. Recent survey data also shows that less than half of U.S. students feel that they “often” or “always” work on interesting problems in math class.
When math feels irrelevant or intimidating, students disengage—and the learning gaps that follow can be difficult to close.
An opportunity to grow
But the data also includes opportunities. According to NAEP research, more than 70% of students report that they enjoy activities that challenge their thinking and thinking about problems in new ways.
Problem-based learning helps give those students what they want.
And in a world that relies increasingly on data, analysis, and innovation, students need to learn not just how to follow steps and apply formulas, but how to think mathematically. In other words, problem-solving skills need to be part of student learning. This is particularly important in elementary and middle school math, where foundational concepts are built—and where students have the chance to forget their identities as “math people.”
That’s why working to infuse problem-based math learning into your district’s instruction can help reverse negative math and engagement trends.
What does problem-based learning in math look like?
Let’s go back and define this approach more fully. Research shows that math instruction is most effective when it encourages students—individually or grouped with peers—to grapple actively with math problems. When instruction gives students the opportunity and freedom to solve problems, rather than dictating solutions and then having them practice, students are more motivated.
For example, instead of memorizing the formula for calculating area and then practicing it in a series of disconnected problems, students might tackle a problem-solving challenge like:
How much paint is needed to cover our classroom walls?” Or they might work on a broader question such as: “How can we design a park, taking into account constraints like space, cost, and accessibility?
At its core, problem-based learning values mathematical thinking and reasoning. Rather than focusing on procedures and memorization, problem-based learning encourages students to:
- Explore open-ended problems.
- Ask questions and make connections.
- Develop strategies to solve problems collaboratively.
- Build curiosity and perseverance.
- Reflect on their reasoning and process.
In the problem-based learning classroom, students are positioned as active participants in their math experiences, building a deeper understanding of concepts as they work through challenges. This is particularly critical for ensuring students don’t just learn math, but understand why it works and how to apply it. These approaches can transform math classrooms into spaces where students build both foundational and real-world math skills—and a healthy dose of math confidence, too.
Critical factors in making the shift
Integrating problem-based learning into traditional math teaching can feel like (and is!) a big change—in lesson-planning, mindset, and more.
To make it work for administrators, teachers, and students alike, schools do best when they focus on a few critical factors. These include:
- Clear vision: Understand (and communicate) why the shift matters and what it looks like in action.
- Leadership buy-in: Gain commitment from school leaders and administrators.
- Teacher support: Offer professional development, resources, and ongoing guidance specific to math instruction.
- Structured approaches: Establish a well-defined plan for implementing problem-based learning in math classrooms effectively.
What problem-based learning can look like in the classroom
While problem-based learning offers proven benefits, it can be difficult to integrate into the classroom without a clear structure. Teachers need tools and strategies to guide students through the process and ensure that learning goals are met.
A structured approach to problem-based learning in math should include:
- Defining the problem: Present a clear, engaging math challenge connected to real-world scenarios.
- Student inquiry: Encourage exploration, discussion, and different solution paths.
- Collaboration: Support teamwork to share ideas and reasoning.
- Reflection: Allow students to evaluate their process, solutions, and learning.
This structured approach not only improves students’ conceptual understanding, but also aligns with Amplify’s research findings, which show that students who engage in active learning outperform their peers in more traditional settings.
By embracing problem-based learning in math classrooms, educators can:
- Boost student engagement and confidence.
- Improve student problem-solving and mathematical reasoning skills.
- Help reverse declines in math achievement over time.
- Empower students to see the value and relevance of math in academics and in their lives.
Ready to learn more?
If you’re ready to explore how your school can make the shift to problem-based learning in math, our new change management ebook is the perfect place to start. It offers practical guidance, real-world examples, and a deeper look at the strategies highlighted above.
Download the ebook now to discover actionable insights and strategies to help make problem-based learning come alive in your math classrooms.
What’s included in our K–8 literacy assessment and instruction suite
mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition® provides every teacher, coach, and administrator with a data-driven system that supports each student’s unique needs—from efficient one-minute skills assessments in English and Spanish to granular diagnostic insights. You’ll have all of the tools you need to ensure your students receive effective instruction and discover their true skills as readers.
Learn more about mCLASS’s precise measurement, predictive results, and preventive instruction.

Skills at a glance
mCLASS includes benchmark, progress monitoring and dyslexia screening measures in English and Spanish that are predictive of long-term reading success and detect the critical early warning signs of dyslexia risk. Together, mCLASS DIBELSⓇ 8th Edition and mCLASS Lectura identify whether a student is at risk due to a stronger proficiency in one language or difficulties associated with dyslexia.

Equal skill coverage in English and Spanish
| Skill | mCLASS DIBELS 8 measure | mCLASS Lectura measure | Description |
| Letter names and rapid automatized naming (RAN)* | Letter Naming Fluency (LNF) | Fluidez in nombrar letras (FNL) | Grades K–1: Naming letters from print |
| Phonological awareness | Phonemic Segmentation Fluency (PSF) | Fluidez en la segmentación de sílabas (FSS) Fluidez en la segmentación de fonemas (FSF) | Grades K–1: Hearing and using the smallest unit of sound in spoken words |
| Letter sound correspondence | Nonsense Word Fluency (NWF) | Fluidez en los sonidos de letras (FSL) | Grades K–3: Knowing the sounds of letters and sounding out written words |
| Word reading | Word-Reading Fluency (WRF) | Fluidez en las palabras (FEP) | Grades K–3: Reading common words easily, quickly and correctly |
| Accurate and fluent reading | Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) | Fluidez en la lectura oral (FLO) | English: Grades 1–8 Spanish: Grades 1–6 Reading words in stories easily, quickly and correctly |
| Reading comprehension | Maze | ¿Cuál palabra? (CP) | English: Grades 2–8 Spanish: Grades 2–6 Understanding and gaining meaning from texts |
Additional dyslexia screening measures
| English | Spanish | Description | Grade level |
| Vocabulary | Vocabulario | Knowledge of grade-specific words | K–3 |
| Encoding (Spelling) | Ortografia | Arranging letters correctly to spell a word | K–3 |
| RAN (Numbers) | – | Recognizing visual symbols, such as numbers, and naming them accurately and rapidly | K–3 |
| Oral Language | Lenguaje oral | Ability to use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts | K–2 |
Educator and caregiver reports
The rich data you collect through direct observation is instantly available from a variety of reports that simplify student growth analysis and instructional planning. All stakeholders, from teachers and administrators to parents and guardians, will gain a deep understanding of student performance and know how to provide extra practice. See the complete mCLASS Reporting Guide.

Class and student reports
Detailed class and student reports help you quickly pinpoint which students need more support. You’ll be able to see every student’s skill progression from the beginning of their literacy journey to later grades and know exactly when a change in instruction is needed. Measure transcripts from every benchmark and progress monitoring probe also provide you with insight into student responses during assessment.

Goal setting
mCLASS includes tools for setting goals and evaluating growth outcomes to ensure the instruction you are providing each individual student is meeting their needs and accelerating their growth. The program uses each student’s initial performance to assign goals, which you can further customize as their learning progresses.

Administrator reports
The mCLASS reporting and analysis suite makes it possible to analyze performance trends across a variety of demographic categories at the class, school, district, and state level. Principals, administrators, and district leaders are empowered to evaluate the success of instructional strategies, allocate training resources, or decide where to deploy additional staff.

Caregiver reports
The Home Connect letter allows educators to share information about a child’s reading development with parents and guardians in simple charts and family-friendly language. The letters provided include instructional resources in print and online for families to help practice skills at home.

Data-driven instruction
mCLASS helps you make sense of data by instantly providing targeted instructional recommendations and teacher resources based on students’ assessment results. mCLASS data also informs instruction within Amplify’s suite of intervention, personalized learning, and core programs grounded in the Science of Reading.

Automatic small-group and one-on-one instruction
The mCLASS Instruction feature included with DIBELS 8th Edition and mCLASS Lectura automatically generates skill profiles and recommends teacher-led activities for small groups and individual students. Recommendations can be updated based on the latest benchmark and progress monitoring results.

Tier 2 and 3 instruction with mCLASS Intervention
mCLASS data not only helps you identify which students are in need of intensive support, but also places them into Amplify’s Tier 2 and 3 instruction program, mCLASS Intervention. mCLASS Intervention builds a skill profile for each student, forms engaging lesson plans, and updates the instructional recommendations every ten days based on the latest benchmark and progress monitoring results.

Core instruction with Amplify CKLA
By combining the results from mCLASS assessments with Amplify CKLA, you can provide targeted whole-class instruction specific to your students’ risk levels and areas of growth. The small-group instruction recommendations in mCLASS provide activities that reinforce what students have learned during Amplify CKLA core instruction.

Personalized practice with Boost Reading
mCLASS data seamlessly integrates with Boost Reading to personalize student practice in targeted skill areas. With more than 50 immersive mini-games that build skills in phonics, phonological awareness, vocabulary, and comprehension, Boost Reading provides students with independent practice time they’ll love, while freeing teachers up to provide small-group instruction.

Explore more programs based on the Science of Reading
The programs in our literacy suite are designed to support and complement each other. Learn more about our related programs.
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions? We have answers. Check out the following FAQ.

Overview
- Amplify CKLA is based on research showing that closing the background knowledge gap is necessary for supporting the literacy development of all students. To that end, Amplify CKLA teaches literacy through the lens of cross-curricular domains in science, history, literature, and culture. It was developed in response to research that shows the critical impact of background knowledge on reading comprehension and college- and career-readiness.
- The program also reflects the latest early reading research showing the importance of explicit foundational skills instruction. The program develops students’ foundational literacy skills through a systematic scope and sequence with a focus on phonics.
Our research-based language arts curriculum is built on findings showing that higher-level reading comprehension depends on both automatic, fluent decoding and background knowledge. Combining well-established findings from the field of early literacy research with classroom-based feedback, Amplify CKLA ensures that children will learn to listen, speak, read, and write confidently and proficiently. For more information, view the Amplify CKLA Research Guide.
Amplify CKLA is a PreK–5 program. While the PreK and K–2 materials respect the important differences between early childhood education and formal schooling, the Grades 3–5 materials ensure a smooth transition to the academic rigors of middle school.
PreK
The focus in PreK is to maintain a developmentally appropriate early childhood setting; the structures, routines, and activities are engaging and children receive a solid foundation for future language arts instruction.
K–2
The focus in K–2 is developing fluent reading and writing skills, and enhancing language comprehension by building background knowledge and vocabulary. This is accomplished through two strands: the Skills Strand and the Knowledge Strand.
The Skills Strand focuses on decoding, encoding, grammar, handwriting, and the writing process, and it contains decodable chapter books for students to practice just-learned sound-spellings.
The Knowledge Strand builds background knowledge and vocabulary through carefully sequenced read-alouds and complex texts. Teachers read aloud stories that are more complex than the text students can decode on their own, enabling children to engage with complex texts and build background knowledge of a variety of connected topics in history, science, literature, and the arts.
3–5
In Grades 3–5, students are still focused on building reading and writing skills as well as knowledge and vocabulary, but the program no longer has two strands. The various lessons in each unit include read-alouds; whole-group, small-group, and partner reading; close reading; literal, inferential, and evaluative comprehension questions; vocabulary; grammar; writing; morphology and spelling (10–15 words per week); and unit assessments.
Program design
The Skills strand provides intentional and systematic support in building decoding skills. The lessons support learning related to phonemic awareness, sound-letter patterns (or spelling patterns), decoding (both in explicit lessons and with engaging decodable texts), writing mechanics, and writing structure and processes, for 60 minutes daily.
The Knowledge Strand develops young children’s language and background knowledge. By exposing children to rich and complex texts through daily read-alouds, engaging in text-based and analytic discussions of the text and content, and building connections from the text to the work of the classroom through extension activities, the Knowledge Strand provides daily, extensive (60 minutes) broadening and deepening of children’s oral language and comprehension.
Teaching the Skills Strand and Knowledge Strand in parallel helps students avoid cognitive overload and acquire advanced, complex vocabulary in the Knowledge Strand—in essence, reading to learn from day one—while becoming expert decoders in the Skills Strand. The program is designed to bring these two strands together in grades 3–5, as foundational skills and higher-level comprehension and meaning-making gradually intertwine.
The CKLA program takes a comprehensive approach to teaching the code of the English language in the Skills strand. While the English language has only 26 letters, these letters combine to create 150 spelling patterns that represent 44 sounds of language. In most reading programs, children are explicitly taught only a fraction of this information and must glean the rest from ad hoc and incidental exposure to these spelling patterns through text. CKLA focuses on explicitly teaching each of the 44 sounds and the 150 ways that these sounds are represented (via letters and letter combinations). This comprehensive approach assures educators that children have the knowledge they need to address any text and any word.
The Knowledge Strand reflects the fact that knowledge, comprehension, and vocabulary are intimately related. The materials are designed to provide children sustained time on a variety of domains (bodies of knowledge) through shared read-alouds and discussions. This coherent organization of content is critical to building knowledge, inferring new vocabulary, and enabling comprehension. The content-rich, intentionally sequenced nature of the read-alouds within the Knowledge Strand creates the optimal context for incidental and explicit vocabulary-learning opportunities. After the read-aloud, children analyze the text through interactive discussion questions, engage in activities that foster their comprehension of complex sentences and ideas, and extend the ideas of the read-aloud into other activities in the classroom. In this way, the lessons create rich, academically oriented, oral language experiences that promote both receptive and expressive language skills.
Amplify CKLA embeds a variety of diagnostic and classroom assessments into the program materials.
There are curriculum-based assessments of both foundational skills and content knowledge, placement assessments in Grades 1 and 2 for the Skills Strand, and end-of-year Skills Strand assessments in Grades K–3. These assessments are built into the units of instruction/domains within the Teacher Guides. In Grades 4–5, there are beginning-of-year assessments, frequent spelling assessments, and comprehensive unit assessments.
Formative Assessments are integrated into every lesson, allowing teachers to understand exactly how students are doing on meeting lesson goals and standards-based objectives.
Writing in multiple genres is taught through a process that builds from three highly scaffolded steps to seven flexible steps.
In addition to explicit lessons in handwriting, spelling, and grammar, writing is taught throughout K–5. Instruction begins with a three-step writing process: plan, draft, and edit. The process is reinforced as each new writing genre is addressed. Each genre is taught through a gradual reduction in scaffolding over a set of six lessons that includes teacher modeling, group practice, independent practice, and independent application. This systematic approach allows for continued support and predictable learning as children progress in their knowledge of text types and complexity of writing. By Grade 3, students have worked their way up to a five-step writing process: planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. Beginning in Grade 4, the writing process expands to seven components: planning, drafting, sharing, evaluating, revising, and editing (and the optional component of publishing). An important change between the writing process in Grades 3–5 is that the writing process is no longer conceptualized as a series of scaffolded, linear steps that students follow in a set sequence. Rather, students move back and forth between components of the writing process in a flexible manner, similar to the process that mature and experienced writers follow. In addition to specific writing lessons, there are numerous writing opportunities for students throughout the curriculum.
Alignment to the CCSS
Fully implementing the Common Core Standards requires some shifts in prevailing instructional approaches. For early grades language arts, these shifts can be summarized as (1) balancing fiction and nonfiction text, (2) building knowledge, (3) supporting students’ capacity to learn from increasingly complex texts, (4) giving text-based answers, (5) writing from sources, and (6) explicitly supporting the acquisition of academic vocabulary. The following sections document the primary ways that Amplify CKLA meets the demands of these shifts.
- The amount of nonfiction gradually increases, reaching the 50-50 balance of fiction and nonfiction by grade 3.
- Read-alouds in the Knowledge Strand are designed according to the latest research to build knowledge and vocabulary in history, science, the arts, and more.
- The texts in both the Knowledge Strand and the Skills strand increase in complexity as the program progresses within and across grades.
- In the Skills Strand, the language and knowledge demands of the texts increase, but remain decodable based on the aspects of the code that have been taught to date.
- Both strands engage students in appropriate means of providing text-based answers—orally, pictorially, and eventually in writing.
- Together, the Skills and Knowledge Strands enable students to read and digest various sources and then write by drawing on those sources.
- In both strands of the program, Amplify CKLA teaches children the process of using the text as a springboard for understanding.
- The Knowledge Strand offers repeated exposures to academic vocabulary through authentic texts and explicit word instruction.
Materials
PreK
- Teacher Guides, Student Activity Pages, 3–4 Trade Books per domain, Flip Books, Image Cards, Transition and Center Cards, Nursery Rhymes and Songs Posters, and a Big Book (Classic Tales)
Grades K–2
- Knowledge Strand: Teacher Guides, Flip Books, Student Activity Books, Image Cards, and online resources including supplemental lessons
- Skills Strand: Teacher Guides, Activity Books, Student Readers, Big Books, Letter Cards, Spelling Cards, Individual Code Sheets, Code and Chaining Resources (Vowel/Consonant Code Flip Books, Student Chaining Folders), Blending Cards, and online resources including differentiation and remediation guides
Grades 3–5
- Teacher Guides, Student Readers, Activity Books, Poet’s Journal, Writer’s Journal, Core Quests (The Viking Age in Grade 3, Eureka: Student Inventor in Grade 4 and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in grade 5) and Writing Quests (The Contraption in Grade 4, The Robot in Grade 5)
Science of Reading
Inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and curious citizens
Amplify Science is a breakthrough curriculum designed to address the NYS Science Learning Standards. Authored by the industry-leading team at the Lawrence Hall of Science, Amplify Science is a highly-engaging, phenomena-based curriculum for grades K-8 that integrates the latest research and practices in science education, as well as interactive digital tools and hands-on activities, to teach students to think, read, write, and argue like real scientists and engineers.
Explore Amplify Science
Explore Amplify Science
Amplify Science for elementary school
Our complete program for Grades K-5 recognizes the importance of students’ engagement with hands-on experiences, and amplifies those with literacy-rich activities, closely aligned digital materials and award-winning, informational books.
- Learn more about Amplify Science for elementary schools
- Review the K-5 NYSSLS Correlations
- Download the K-5 unit sequence
- Hear from K-5 teachers
Amplify Science for middle school
Our complete program for grades 6-8 is a new curriculum that integrates the latest strategies in science teaching and learning with phenomena-driven storylines, hands-on investigations, and interactive digital tools to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Transitioning to the NGSS and 3-Dimensional Learning
Join us for the “Transitioning to the NGSS and 3-Dimensional Learning” workshop!
While at the event:
- Build your knowledge around the NGSS and 3-Dimensional learning
- See how Amplify Science embodies the instructional shifts
- Enjoy lunch with colleagues and Amplify Science partners
- Get preview access to Amplify Science K–8 for your school
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Sheraton Niagara Falls
300 3rd St
Niagara Falls, NY 14303
Welcome to Amplify CKLA!
Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) is a cutting-edge and effective core ELA program for students in grades K–5. It was developed in partnership with the Core Knowledge Foundation, features proven evidence-based instructional practices, and was specifically designed to help teachers implement Science of Reading principles.
Note: We’re continually adding information to this site, including specific details regarding our alignment with your non-negotiables. Keep checking back with us between now and April 20, 2023.

Getting Started
On this site, you’ll find a variety of resources designed to support your review and evaluation of the program. Before you dive in, watch the Orientation Overview and Program Overview videos below to learn about CKLA’s alignment to CCSD’s ELA adoption requirements, as well as where to find key program resources.
[Video] Orientation Overview
[Video] Program Overview
In the video below, learn about CKLA’s structure and materials, as well the research behind the curriculum.
Evidence-Based
[Video] Pedagogical Overview with Simple View of Reading
In the video below, Amplify’s Chief Academic Officer Susan Lambert shares the big picture of CKLA, and explains why it was created and the impact it’s making across the country. Below are a few portions of the video that you may find particularly helpful as you conduct your review.
- 0-1:00 Why CKLA?
- 1:00-4:40 How CKLA was built on the Simple View of Reading
- 4:40-8:00 How to review the CKLA Components
- 8:00-end Teacher Testimonial
[Features] Supporting the Simple View of Reading
Built out of the latest research in the Science of Reading, Amplify CKLA delivers explicit instruction in both foundational literacy skills (systematic phonics, decoding, and fluency) and background knowledge in grades K–2 with an integrated approach to explicit instruction in grades 3–5.
Review this Science of Reading toolkit to learn more about the Science of Reading best practices integrated throughout CKLA.
See our Science of Reading solutions in action! Click here to see a real example of how one Ohio district is implementing and educating their K–8 community on the Science of Reading as a response to Ohio’s Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement Initiative.
Great reading instruction starts with helping kids develop great decoding skills. By building a solid foundation of phonological awareness and phonics, reading the words on the page becomes automatic so that comprehension and critical thinking can happen. Our instruction is supported by:
- Step-by-step lessons with multisensory approaches, clear lesson objectives, and embedded formative assessments.
- Decodable books and student readers with ebook and audiobook versions that feature engaging plots and relatable characters.
- An engaging sound library with fun songs and videos that develop phonological awareness.
- An interactive Vocab App featuring engaging activities with immediate feedback and automated, customized instruction based on student performance.
Students build grade-appropriate subject-area knowledge and vocabulary in history, science, literature, and the arts while learning to read, write, and think creatively and for themselves. Our instruction is supported by:
- Knowledge builders that provide a quick overview of each domain with its key ideas.
- Interactive Read-Alouds designed to build knowledge and vocabulary.
- Content-rich anchor texts that support students as they tackle increasingly complex text and sharpen their analytical skills.
- Social and emotional learning paired with lessons in civic responsibility.
Easy-to-Use Materials
Amplify CKLA offers a number of digital and multimedia resources to support instruction and enhance the teacher and student experience.
- Amplify CKLA Digital Experience Site: All teacher and student materials are posted on this site for planning and information purposes, including Teacher Guides, Readers, Activity Books, Ancillary Materials, videos, additional resources, and links to other useful sites, such as the Professional Learning site.
- The Professional Learning Site: This site includes training materials, best practices, and other resources to develop program expertise. Access professional development anywhere, anytime.
- Intervention Toolkit: The Intervention Toolkit provides easy-to use resources to assist teachers in filling gaps in students’ foundational skills. Teachers will find hundreds of activities to support phonics, fluency, comprehension, handwriting, and other key skills.
- The Science of Reading: The Podcast: Hosted by Susan Lambert, The Podcast delivers the latest insights from researchers and practitioners in early reading. Each episode takes a conversational approach and explores a timely topic related to the Science of Reading.
In addition to the videos below, our CKLA Components Guide can be a helpful tool as you explore the materials provided within your sample tubs.
[Video] Physical Materials Walkthrough
As you explore your physical samples, the material walkthrough video below can be a helpful resource. In particular, we suggest watching the following portions of the video.
- 0-4:38 CKLA components for K–2
- 4:38-7:00 CKLA components for 3–5
- 7-7:30 CKLA Program Guide
- 10:12-13:20 CKLA’s Teacher Resource Site
Note: The below video covers both our K-5 program (Amplify CKLA) as well as our 6-8 program (Amplify ELA).
[Video] Digital Materials Walkthrough
In the video below, learn about CKLA’s digital tools for teachers and students across both classroom and asynchronous environments.
As you prepare to explore our digital platform, be sure to watch and refer to the video below.
Diverse Texts
In Amplify CKLA, texts serve a variety of purposes, from building background knowledge, vocabulary, and comprehension to building decoding and fluency skills.
In grades K–2, instruction is segmented between two strands: Knowledge and Skills.
- Reading within the Knowledge Strand is centered around authentic read-alouds and trade books that are intentionally sequenced to build content knowledge and vocabulary in specific domain topics around literature, history, science, and the arts. Because research shows that students’ listening comprehension outpaces their reading comprehension until their early teens, Amplify CKLA strategically uses read-aloud text in this strand, allowing students to focus their cognitive energy on gaining meaning from the words and better understanding from the images.
- Reading within the Skills Strand centers around carefully crafted Student Readers that teach students how to read. Structured as chapter books, these readers are 100% decodable and were developed to align with Amplify CKLA’s scope and sequence for phonics, directly connecting instruction to student practice in connected texts. Students use the Readers to practice decoding, fluency, and comprehension during shared reading lessons, targeted close reading sessions, in small groups, and independently.
In grades 3–5, integrated units bring the Skills and Knowledge strands together as students become increasingly automatic and strategic in their word recognition and language comprehension skills. Student reading and comprehension activities involve a variety of reading materials:
- Authentic Read-Alouds and trade books ensure students encounter a variety of perspectives as they use these complex text to increase their knowledge while practicing vocabulary and listening comprehension skills.
- Student Readers connect to each theme and are designed to increase in complexity over time, providing a continual challenge as students’ reading and listening comprehension skills develop and strengthen throughout the year.
- Novel Guides provide teachers a flexible option for extending authentic reading and text-based activities in the classroom using award-winning and acclaimed novels.
- ReadWorks articles give students access to additional high-quality texts aligned to both Amplify CKLA knowledge topics and the topics outlined in the Common Core State Standards.
Decodable Readers at Grades K–2
Our Decodable Readers are designed to progress in skills, mirroring the scope and sequence of instruction, which allows students to immediately apply what they are learning to 100% decodable text. More specifically, our decodables:
- Are uniquely designed to provide intensive practice with the CKLA code while students read compelling and engaging stories and informational texts for the first time.
- Gradually introduce students to “tricky” spelling concepts, such as different sounds that use the same letter code.
- Increase in text complexity (i.e., content, length, and vocabulary) as students progress through the grades.
- Include fiction and nonfiction text.
- Are available as ebooks and audiobooks.
Below, you can see how students grow from year-to-year across grades K–2.



Student Readers at Grades 3–5
By grades 3–5, students have mastered the basics of decoding and are hungry to use what they’ve learned to reach out to the world. Although Read-Alouds remain an important part of lessons, students are also encouraged to practice independent reading starting in grade 3 with the support of carefully crafted Student Readers. These readers are chock-full of various text types, cultural stories, and a blend of fiction and nonfiction texts that are tied to and support the overarching theme of the unit.

Read-alouds
Authentic literature exposes students to a variety of text types and perspectives to deepen their knowledge of fascinating topics in social studies, science, literature, and the arts. Authentic texts support text-to-self, text-to-world, and text-to-text connections for readers.

Trade books
Our optional Trade Book Collection (and suggested list of additional trade books) align with our grade-level topics, and extend the knowledge students are learning through an authentic text.

Novel Guides
Novel Guides bring students beyond the CKLA curriculum. We provide fifteen full days of instruction on contemporary trade books, as well as writing prompts that help students navigate the authentic literature they love.

ReadWorks
Amplify CKLA and ReadWorks® have partnered to deliver high-quality texts curated to support the Amplify CKLA Knowledge Sequence and to extend student learning. Texts include high-interest nonfiction articles in topics in social studies, science, literature, and the arts. These texts are accompanied by vocabulary supports and standards-aligned formative assessment opportunities. Teachers can monitor their students’ progress using the ReadWorks reporting features.
Reading resources
The following resources may be helpful as you explore our approach to reading and the role that diverse texts play in the program.
- CKLA Text Complexity Guide
- What students read in Grade K
- What students read in Grade 1
- What students read in Grade 2
- What students read in Grade 3
- What students read in Grade 4
- What students read in Grade 5
Writing
CKLA is rich with opportunities for students to develop, practice, and hone their writing skills. While the shape of writing instruction looks slightly different at each grade level, a commonality across all grades K–5 is that writing isn’t taught in isolation. Rather, it’s embedded within the context of each unit, and is connected to what students read.
At Grades K–2, writing takes place in both the Skills and Knowledge strands.
- Explicit instruction in writing skills (such as sentence structure) and handwriting takes place in the Skills Strand, and is tied to the decodable readers used within each unit.
- Extended writing and writing process activities take place in the Knowledge Strand.
At Grades 3–5, writing is embedded through the integrated units.
- Across each unit, students work on smaller, more discrete writing skills alongside their Student Reader. These skills eventually culminate at the end of each unit in the form of a writing project.
- In 4th and 5th grades, we expand writing even further with the addition of Poetry units.
Writing and text-dependent questions
The overwhelming majority of questions, tasks, and assignments in CKLA materials are text-dependent. Every CKLA unit and domain is based around key texts that are either read aloud, with a peer, or independently. These readings are followed by class discussions where students are expected to refer to these texts when answering literal, inferential, and evaluative questions, both orally during class discussions and through written responses.
- Literal questions assess students’ recall of key details from the text. These are text-dependent questions that require students to paraphrase and/or refer back to the portion of the text where the specific answer is provided.
- Inferential questions ask students to infer information from the text and to think critically. These text-dependent questions require students to summarize and/or reference the portions of the text that lead to and support the inference they are making.
- Evaluative questions ask students to build on what they have learned from the text using analytical and application skills, often to form an opinion or make a judgment. These questions require students to paraphrase and/or cite the textual evidence that substantiates their argument or opinion.
In addition, students are often asked to generate additional questions based on the texts. Students further demonstrate understanding in writing by applying what they have learned and providing evidence from the text to back up their answers and opinions. For example, Grade 3 students learning about sea exploration write a paragraph from the perspective of a sailor on John Cabot’s ship, stating their opinion of whether the hardships they experienced are worth the adventure or glory and citing examples from the text to support their response. Grade 5 students studying the Adventures of Don Quixote write a four-paragraph persuasive essay arguing whether they believe Don Quixote’s good intentions justify his often calamitous actions, using reasons and evidence from the text to support their claims.
Writing with authentic literature
Novel Guides are designed around authentic texts students love. They not only help students foster a love for reading, they also present authentic opportunities for students to express themselves through writing. Novel Guides provide daily text-based writing and discussion through five activity types:
- Ask contains questions for discussion, reflection, or brief written responses. These questions cover information all students should understand as they read the text.
- Explore prompts offer brief research opportunities centered around items mentioned in the text.
- Imagine activities promote creativity and further reflection.
- Observe items ask students to take notes or make other kinds of observations about what they have read.
- Understand questions push students to explore connections to the text.
Writing and enrichment
Writing tasks throughout the program provide almost limitless opportunities for extension. Feedback from the teacher, peers, and self-reflection provide students opportunities to strengthen their writing. For example, advanced students can be encouraged to:
- Use more complex and unusual descriptive vocabulary.
- Incorporate figurative language into their writing.
- Write multi-clause sentences with more complex joining words.
- Create longer or richer opinion, explanatory, and narrative pieces.
- Evaluate the use of informational textual characteristics and use in their own writing (e.g., headers, bullets).
Writing resources
The following resources may be helpful as you explore our approach to writing and how writing develops across the program.
Access the program
Explore as a teacher
Before logging in, watch this brief video on navigating the CKLA Teacher Resource Site.
Ready to explore as a teacher? Follow these instructions:
- Click the CKLA Teacher Resource Site button below.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter the username: t1.ccsd-k5-ckla@demo.tryamplify.net
- Enter the password: Amplify1-ccsd-k5-ckla
- Click the CKLA Teacher Resource icon
- Select a grade level
Explore as a student
Before logging in, watch this brief video on navigating the CKLA Student Hub.
Ready to explore as a student? Follow these instructions:
- Click the CKLA Teacher Resource Site button below.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter the username: s1.ccsd-k5-ckla@demo.tryamplify.net
- Enter the password: Amplify1-ccsd-k5-ckla
- Click the CKLA Teacher Resource icon
- Select a grade level
Check out these additional resources
Nevada submission resources:
- CKLA Program Alignment to the Standards (Nevada Rubric: Category 1)
- CKLA Program Social Justice Alignment (Nevada Rubric 2: Category 2)
- CKLA Grade K Lesson Alignment to the Nevada Academic Content Standards for English Language Arts
- CKLA Grade 1 Lesson Alignment to the Nevada Academic Content Standards for English Language Arts
- CKLA Grade 2 Lesson Alignment to the Nevada Academic Content Standards for English Language Arts
- CKLA Grade 3 Lesson Alignment to the Nevada Academic Content Standards for English Language Arts
- CKLA Grade 4 Lesson Alignment to the Nevada Academic Content Standards for English Language Arts
- CKLA Grade 5 Lesson Alignment to the Nevada Academic Content Standards for English Language Arts
CKLA review resources:
- CKLA Program guide
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion in CKLA
- Text complexity in CKLA
- Trade books in CKLA
- Assessments in CKLA
- Remote and hybrid learning with CKLA
- Amplify ELA Technical Specifications
- CKLA Scopes and Sequences
- Grade K Skills and Knowledge
- Grade 1 Skills and Knowledge
- Grade 2 Skills and Knowledge
- Grade 3 Integrated
- Grade 4 Integrated
- Grade 5 Integrated
Connecticut K-5 ELA: Explore Amplify CKLA (English) and Caminos (Spanish)
Thank you for visiting Amplify’s Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) and Caminos website designed exclusively for you. We are very excited for you to further explore Amplify CKLA and Amplify Caminos and discover more about our proven, phonics-based literacy programs in English and Spanish. Begin your journey with the Introduction below and explore Amplify CKLA and Caminos.

Introduction
We are excited for you to see how Amplify CKLA and Amplify Caminos provide parallel, high-quality resources in both English and Spanish for all students and multilingual learners across NYC! Both programs are flexible, offering stand-alone foundational skills instruction as well as comprehensive core English Language Arts.
Amplify CKLA Skills and Caminos Lectoescritura are entirely built on the latest reading science and provide comprehensive instruction in all foundational reading skills. These programs feature:
- Phonological awareness, phonics, and word recognition
- Strong, systematic sound-first instruction to support students in learning to decode
- Language skills, including conventions, spelling, and grammar
- Reading comprehension
- Writing instruction
CKLA and Caminos for grades K–2 provides a two-strand approach – the first strand is the Foundational Skills Strand (as described above) and the second is the Knowledge Strand, in which students build rich background knowledge through multidisciplinary Read-Alouds in both English and Spanish. Additionally, in Grades 3-5, CKLA and Caminos take an Integrated Approach, meaning everything is focused on rich worldly context.
We highly encourage you to check out the Grades K-2 Knowledge Strand section of the website and the 3-5 Integrated Approach section to explore these components further, gain access to the engaging, worldly, and diverse texts students and teachers are using in their classrooms daily, and discover so much more!
Access the program
Every day in the CKLA/Caminos classroom, students will practice their existing reading skills while stretching themselves toward new goals. In K–2, each day includes dedicated skills time to help you give students a solid foundation. In the upper grades, skills instruction becomes integrated with Knowledge lessons, and students engage with increasingly complex content-rich texts and writing activities.
Start with the sound
All instruction starts with phonological awareness, which research has shown to benefit the greatest number of students.
Students begin by learning to recognize sounds, as well as to articulate them.
Build to the phoneme
All instruction starts with phonological awareness, which research has shown to benefit the greatest number of students. Students begin by learning to recognize sounds, as well as to articulate them.
Crack the code
Once students can recognize sounds, they learn to form the corresponding letter codes. CKLA starts by teaching the sound-spellings that appear most frequently in English, which lets your students read and write as many words as possible, as soon as possible.
Grow in complexity
The lessons continue to challenge students as they progress, introducing complications like multisyllabic words, “tricky words,” and homophones. In each case, students encounter complications as they become ready for them.
While students are learning how to read, Knowledge Domains give them authentic and engaging reasons to read. Students will use their skills to explore domains that relate to storytelling, science, and the history of our world as seen through the eyes of many different groups. With these domains, you’ll bring the world to your students, showing them how reading can become an exciting, rewarding, and useful part of their lives.
Build connections and context
Each CKLA/Caminos Knowledge Domain gives students a base of vocabulary and concepts, building on what they’ve learned in previous domains. This helps students make connections within and across grades, building a base of background knowledge that will help them navigate new and more complex texts.
Listen and understand
Students learn to listen and understand before they learn to read. By delivering knowledge through classroom Read-Alouds, we teach students the key comprehension skills they’ll use throughout their reading lives.
Emphasis on interactivity
We emphasize interactions with students, challenging them and encouraging them to think about the material rather than simply receive it. Each lesson includes many options for formative assessment and immediate adjustment to your class’s needs.
Assess what’s important
End-of-domain digital assessments for Knowledge Domains are fully voice acted, ensuring that each student’s comprehension skills are being authentically tested. This not only helps build student test-taking confidence, but also gives you a more accurate picture of your class.
Step 1: Watch this video walkthrough of the CKLA/Caminos Teacher Resource Site.
Step 2: Explore the Teacher Resource Site.
- Click the CKLA/Caminos Teacher Resource button below.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter your teacher username: t.nyc-ckla-caminosK2@tryamplify.net
- Enter your password: AmplifyNumber1
- Toggle to access either English and Spanish
Step 3: Watch this video walkthrough of the CKLA/Caminos Student Hub.
Step 4: Explore the CKLA/Caminos Student Hub for Grades K-2.
- Click the CKLA/Caminos Student Hub button below.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter your student username: s.nyc-ckla-caminosK2@tryamplify.net
- Enter your password: AmplifyNumber1
- Select a grade level.
By grades 3–5, students have mastered the basics of decoding and are hungry to use what they’ve learned to reach out to the world. Although Read-Alouds remain an important part of lessons, students are also encouraged to practice independent reading starting in grade 3—striking a balance between strong teacher support and developing their autonomy and confidence as readers.
Writing and Language
As students progress from K–2, writing activities start to emphasize analysis, creativity, and independent thinking about the material students are learning.
Core Quests: Transforming the classroom
Each of the levels in grades 3–5 contains a Core Quest. In these special
units, all the normal rules of the classroom change, and students engage
with language in surprising new ways. Here in this grade 5 example, they
learn to love the dense Shakespearian language of A Midsummer Night’s
Dream through imagery, close reading, and performance.
Step 1: Watch this video walkthrough of the CKLA/Caminos Teacher Resource Site.
Step 2: Explore the CKLA/Caminos Teacher Resource Site for Grades 3-5.
- Click the CKLA/Caminos Teacher Resource button below.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter your teacher username: t.nyc-ckla-caminos35@tryamplify.net
- Enter your password: AmplifyNumber1
- Toggle to access either English and Spanish
Step 3: Watch this video walkthrough of the CKLA/Caminos Student Hub.
Step 4: Explore the CKLA/Caminos Student Hub for Grades 3-5.
- Click the CKLA/Caminos Student Hub button below.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter your student username: s.nyc-ckla-caminos35@tryamplify.net
- Enter your password: AmplifyNumber1
- Select a grade level.
Key program features
The student body of our country has been changing, and it’s changing fast. Over 10% K-12 students are english language learners who speak other languages. This skews heavily to primary grades with 15-16% in grades K-3. In 2021-2022, New York City Public Schools enrolled over 147,000 English language learners across K-12 or about 14% of students. Over 52% of those students are in elementary schools across the district with 23% in grades K-3.
Amplify Caminos uses spiral learning to reinforce every student’s ability to develop skills like reading, writing, speaking, and listening in Spanish that can be transferred to English. As students engage with their lessons, they explore the similarities and differences in grammar, vocabulary, writing, and language use between Spanish and English. This bridge helps students learning two languages to strengthen their knowledge in both.
Through cross-curricular content, students explore units that relate to storytelling, science, and the history of our world in a holistic and thoughtful way. With these units, you’ll bring the world to your students, showing them how reading can become an exciting, rewarding, and useful part of their lives.
Amplify Caminos al Conocimiento Esencial, a Spanish language arts program for Grades K–5 that will inspire and engage your students to become confident readers, writers, and thinkers.
It is designed to support any biliteracy model, including English as a Second Language (ESL), transitional bilingual programs, dual language strands, and Spanish immersion programs.
When used in tandem with Amplify CKLA, Amplify Caminos provides an one-to-one English and Spanish solution.
Built out of the latest research in the Science of Reading, Amplify CKLA delivers explicit instruction in both foundational literacy skills (systematic phonics, decoding, and fluency) and background knowledge in grades K–2 with an integrated approach to explicit instruction in grades 3–5.
Review this Science of Reading Toolkit to learn more about the Science of Reading best practices integrated throughout CKLA.
Great reading instruction starts with helping kids develop great decoding skills. By building a solid foundation of phonological awareness and phonics, reading the words on the page becomes automatic so that comprehension and critical thinking can happen.
Our instruction is supported by:
- Step-by-step lessons with multisensory approaches, clear lesson objectives, and embedded formative assessments.
- Decodable books and student readers with ebook and audiobook versions that feature engaging plots and relatable characters.
- An engaging sound library with fun songs and videos that develop phonological awareness.
- An interactive Vocab App featuring engaging activities with immediate feedback and automated, customized instruction based on student performance.
Students build grade-appropriate subject-area knowledge and vocabulary in history, science, literature, and the arts while learning to read, write, and think creatively and for themselves.
Our instruction is supported by:
- Knowledge builders that provide a quick overview of each domain with its key ideas.
- Interactive read-alouds designed to build knowledge and vocabulary.
- Content-rich anchor texts that support students as they tackle increasingly complex text and sharpen their analytical skills.
- Social and emotional learning paired with lessons in civic responsibility.
From the printed page to the screen, we bring foundational skills and knowledge of the world to your young learners, and make the transition from classroom to home learning seamless.
Download the Amplify CKLA Components Guide to see components by grade.
Additional materials to support your review
Utah ELA Review for Grades PK–5
Thank you for taking the time to review Amplify’s core ELA program for PK–5. Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts® (CKLA) is a state-approved core ELA curriculum designated as a primary core program that fully meets the Science of Reading requirements outlined in SB 127.
Amplify CKLA, developed in partnership with the Core Knowledge Foundation, was designed to help teachers implement Science of Reading principles and evidence-based instructional practices. Scroll down to learn how CKLA is uniquely designed to help all your students make learning leaps in literacy.

Step 1: Program Introduction
Welcome to Amplify CKLA! Before you dive into our materials, watch the video below to learn about the big picture behind Amplify CKLA’s pedagogy.
In this video, Susan Lambert (Chief Academic Officer and host of Science of Reading: The Podocast) shares why Amplify CKLA was created, how it is built on the Science of Reading, and the impact it’s making across the country.
Step 2: Program Overview
Amplify CKLA is different for a reason. Watch the overview video below to learn about these differences and why educators love them.
In this video, you’ll get an in-depth look at the program’s overall structure and organization, the design behind our proven lessons, and the materials included to support teaching and learning.
The Amplify CKLA Program Guide also provides an in-depth view of how Amplify CKLA works, how it’s structured, and why it’s uniquely capable of helping you bring reading instruction based on the Science of Reading to your classroom.
Evidence-based design
Amplify CKLA is rooted in Science of Reading research. Mirroring Scarborough’s Rope, Amplify CKLA delivers a combination of explicit foundational skills with meaningful knowledge-building.
- In Grades PK–2, dedicated knowledge-building and explicit skills instruction are taught simultaneously through two distinct instructional strands.
- In Grades 3–5, dedicated knowledge-building and explicit skills instruction are woven together and delivered through one integrated strand.

Grades K–2 Skills and Knowledge Strands
Every day students in Grades K–2 complete one full lesson that explicitly and systematically builds foundational reading skills in the Skills Strand, as well as one full lesson that builds robust background knowledge to access complex text in the Knowledge Strand. Through learning in each of these strands, students develop the early literacy skills necessary to help them become confident readers and build the context to understand what they’re reading.
Grades 3–5 Integrated Strand
In Grades 3–5, Knowledge and Skills are integrated in one set of instructional materials. Lessons begin to combine skills and knowledge with increasingly complex texts, close reading, and a greater writing emphasis. Students can then use their skills to go on their own independent reading adventures.
Key features
For each Amplify CKLA key feature below, click the drop down arrow to learn more.
Built out of the latest research in the Science of Reading, Amplify CKLA delivers explicit instruction in both foundational literacy skills (systematic phonics, decoding, and fluency) and background knowledge in grades PK–2 with an integrated approach to explicit instruction in grades 3–5.
Review this Science of Reading toolkit to learn more about the Science of Reading best practices integrated throughout CKLA.
Amplify CKLA aligns with the instructional principles recommended by Orton Gillingham and LETRS.
- Structured–Concepts are taught through consistent routines
- Sequential–Concepts are taught in a logical, well-planned sequence
- Systematic–Phonemes are taught from simplest to most complex
- Explicit–Decoding and encoding concepts are taught directly and explicitly
- Multi-sensory–Instruction is delivered through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic-tactile pathways
- Cumulative–Concepts are applied in decodable, connected texts with constant review and reinforcement
Watch this video to learn more!
Additionally, great reading instruction starts with helping kids develop great decoding skills. Our instruction is supported by:
- Step-by-step lessons with multi-sensory approaches, clear lesson objectives, and embedded formative assessments.
- Decodable books and student readers with ebook and audiobook versions that feature engaging plots and relatable characters.
The Science of Reading reveals knowledge as an essential pillar of reading comprehension and lifelong literacy. Hear from author Natalie Wexler and CKLA customers on edWebinar about the importance of knowledge-building in reading instruction.
Students build grade-appropriate subject-area knowledge and vocabulary in history, science, literature, and the arts while learning to read, write, and think creatively and for themselves. Our instruction is supported by:
- Knowledge builders that provide a quick overview of each domain with its key ideas.
- Interactive Read-Alouds designed to build knowledge and vocabulary.
- Content-rich anchor texts that support students as they tackle increasingly complex text and sharpen their analytical skills.
- Social and emotional learning paired with lessons in civic responsibility.
Amplify CKLA not only received an all-green rating from the rigorous evaluators at EdReports, but it was also recently recognized by the Knowledge Matters Campaign as a high-quality literacy program that excels in building knowledge. Our shared message: background knowledge is essential to literacy and learning.
Student-led reading practice should be purposeful and connected to the core. That’s why Amplify createdBoost Reading. As an optional add-on to Amplify CKLA, students have the opportunity to practice skills directly tied to the skills they’ve been working on during core reading time. Boost Reading also adapts to each student to address their personal gaps and bolsters foundational skills at a pace that supports their individual development.
Boost Reading’s collection of 40+ adaptive games target foundational reading skills and develops them in alignment with Science of Reading principles. Unlike other adaptive games, we ensure students:
- Practice the right skills at the right time. Our embedded placement tool ensures students receive the content and skill practice most appropriate for their current reading level. From there, students move through our curriculum along their own learning pathway where they encounter personalized content tailored to their evolving skill and grade levels.
- Progress along a pathway that adapts on multiple dimensions, not just one. For example, a student can work on early first-grade decoding in one game while building more advanced vocabulary knowledge in another.
- Practice skills in tandem. For example, a student is never forced to master one skill area before proceeding to the next. Instead, we offer students that opportunity to work on multiple skills concurrently.
- Feel supported with scaffolding, instruction, and practice that adapts based on student performance.
- Stay engaged by giving them immediate and clear feedback. These results are never punitive. Instead our always-positive feedback is delivered in the context of the game world and is designed to motivate students to keep trying.
Click the buttons below to learn more:
Step 3: Program Resources
Easy-to-use print materials
Amplify CKLA’s easy-to-use materials bring foundational skills and knowledge to life in the classroom.
Download the Amplify CKLA Components guide to see components by grade and watch the print materials walkthrough below.
Engaging CKLA digital experience
The top-rated content of Amplify CKLA is now live with the digital experience that enhances instruction and saves time.

With the digital experience, everything is in one place, making it easier and more engaging than ever to plan lessons, present digital content, and review student work. Click the arrows below to learn more.
With the digital experience, teachers have access to ready-to-use and customizable lesson presentation slides, complete with all the prompts from the print Teacher Guide embedded in the teacher view. As teachers deliver each lesson, students can engage with the content in one cohesive experience—through these CKLA resources: Activity Books, slides, digital components, videos, Student Readers, and more.
The innovative live review tool found in the digital experience enables you to keep an eye on all of your students as they work on drawing, recording audio, uploading and capturing images, and typing or writing in pre-placed textboxes in their Activity Pages. This dynamic tool provides countless classroom management benefits, enabling you to spot and correct common mistakes as they’re happening, praise your students for thoughtful work, and identify students who are not engaged in the task at hand. Simply put, it will give you those valuable “eyes in the back of your head” you’ve warned your students about!
The digital experience integrates with various LMSs, allowing you and your students to access Amplify CKLA with the software you’re already comfortable using.
In the Amplify CKLA student digital experience, your students have one intuitive access point to fully engage with classroom instruction. Through the Student Home, students can easily access digital lessons with slides, Activity Pages, ebooks, videos, and other interactives from one simple dashboard. Students can draw, record audio, upload and capture images, and type or write in pre-placed text boxes in their Activity Pages.
CKLA review resources
- CKLA Program Guide
- Language Studio (ELD)
- Writing Studio (Writing)
- CKLA Research Hub (Efficacy and Case Studies)
- Text complexity in CKLA
- Trade books in CKLA
- Assessments in CKLA
- Amplify Caminos (K-5 Spanish Language Arts Program)
- Amplify CKLA Video for Families and Caregivers
- Amplify CKLA Caregivers Hub
- ELA Curriculum Evaluation Tools
- Remote and hybrid learning with CKLA
- CKLA Scopes and Sequences
- Grade K Skills and Knowledge
- Grade 1 Skills and Knowledge
- Grade 2 Skills and Knowledge
- Grade 3 Integrated
- Grade 4 Integrated
- Grade 5 Integrated
Step 4: State Review Resources
- Utah State Standards Alignment K-5
- Utah Instructional Strategies and Routines
- Utah Science of Reading Evidence-Informed Core Criteria Checklist (Amplify created)
- Utah Critical Features of Tiered Literacy Interventions (featuring Boost Reading)
- Amplify ELA Technical Specifications
Step 5: Program Access
Explore as a teacher
Before logging in, watch this brief video on navigating the CKLA Teacher Platform.
Ready to explore as a teacher? Follow these instructions:
- Click the Amplify CKLA Teacher Platform button below.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter the teacher username: t1.utcklapk5@demo.tryamplify.net
- Enter the teacher password: Amplify1-utcklapk5
- Choose CKLA from the “Your Programs” menu on Educator Home.
- Select a grade level from the drop-down menu at the top of the page.
Ready to explore as a Student? Follow these instructions:
- Click the Amplify CKLA Teacher Platform button below.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter the student username: s1.utahcklapk5@demo.tryamplify.net
- Enter the student password: Amplify1-utahcklapk5
Amplify K–6 ELA programs for Fairfax County
Welcome, Fairfax County Reviewers!
Thank you for exploring our evidence-based K–6 programs built on the Science of Reading and aligned to Virginia standards and Fairfax County’s learning model.
Amplify CKLA for Grades K–5 and Amplify ELA for Grade 6 intentionally build knowledge alongside skills and are aligned within and across grades. Meaningful learning experiences for students pair with powerful instructional support for teachers to drive results.
The following resources will support your review. These include clips of Amplify programs in action; details about key features of the curriculum; and research on the real-world successes of schools, districts, and states who’ve partnered with Amplify.

Amplify CKLA for Grades K–5
Introduction to Amplify CKLA
We’re excited for you to see how Amplify CKLA provides high-quality resources to support literacy instruction for all students! This program is flexible, offering stand-alone foundational skills instruction as well as the program core English Language Arts.
Amplify CKLA Skills is built on the latest reading science and provides comprehensive instruction in all foundational reading skills, featuring:
- Phonological awareness, phonics, and word recognition.
- Strong, systematic sound-first instruction to support students in learning to decode.
- Language skills, including conventions, spelling, and grammar.
- Reading comprehension.
- Writing instruction.
CKLA for Grades K–2 provides a two-strand approach. The first is the Foundational Skills Strand (as described above) and the second is the Knowledge Strand, in which students build rich background knowledge through multidisciplinary read-alouds. CKLA takes an Integrated approach in Grades 3–5, in which lesson sequencing is especially focused on rich, worldly content.
We encourage you to check out the K–2 Knowledge Strand and 3–5 Integrated approach sections of this site to explore the components further and gain access to the engaging and diverse texts students and teachers are using in their classrooms every day!
K–2 Skills Strand
In the CKLA classroom, students practice reading while stretching themselves toward higher goals. In K–2, daily dedicated skills time gives students a solid foundation, while the upper grades integrate this instruction with knowledge lessons in which students engage with increasingly complex, content-rich texts and writing activities.
Start with the sound
All instruction starts with phonological awareness, which research has shown to benefit the greatest number of students. Students begin by learning to recognize sounds, as well as to articulate them.
Build to the phoneme
Over time, students build up their awareness of phonemes. We give teachers a variety of tools, including multisensory gestures, to help kids develop this awareness.
Crack the code
Once students can recognize sounds, they learn to form the corresponding letter codes. CKLA starts by teaching the sound-spellings that appear most frequently in English, which lets your students read and write as many words as possible, as soon as possible.
Grow in complexity
The lessons continue to challenge students as they progress, introducing complications like multisyllabic words, “tricky words,” and homophones. In each case, students encounter more complicated words as they become ready for them.
K–2 Knowledge Strand
While students are learning how to read, Knowledge Domains give them authentic and engaging reasons to read. Students will use their skills to explore domains that relate to storytelling, science, and the history of our world as seen through the eyes of many different groups. With these domains, you’ll bring the world to your students, showing them how reading can become an exciting, rewarding, and useful part of their lives.
Build connections and context
Each CKLA Knowledge Domain gives students a base of vocabulary and concepts, building on what they’ve learned in previous domains. This helps students make connections within and across grades, building a base of background knowledge that will help them navigate new and more complex texts.
Listen and understand
Students learn to listen and understand before they learn to read. By delivering knowledge through classroom read-alouds, Amplify CKLA teaches students the key comprehension skills they’ll use throughout their reading lives.
Emphasis on interactivity
Amplify CKLA prioritizes interactions between students, which challenge and encourage them to think about the material rather than simply receive it. Each lesson includes several opportunities and options for formative assessment and immediate adjustment to the needs of both the class and the individual students.
Assess what’s important
The end-of-domain digital assessments that follow Knowledge Domains are fully voice-acted, ensuring that each student’s comprehension skills are authentically tested. This not only builds students’ test-taking confidence, but gives you a more accurate picture of your class.
3–5 Integrated approach
By Grades 3–5, students have mastered the basics of decoding and are eager to use what they’ve learned to reach out to the world. Although read-alouds remain an important part of lessons, students are also encouraged to practice independent reading starting in Grade 3, developing their autonomy and confidence as readers alongside strong teacher support.
Writing and language
As students progress from K–2, writing activities start to emphasize analysis, creativity, and independent thinking about lesson materials.
Core Quests: Transforming the classroom
Each of the units in Grades 3–5 contain a Core Quest—a special unit in which all the rules of the classroom change as students engage with language in surprising new ways. In Grade 5, for example, students learn to love the dense Shakespearian language of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” through imagery, close reading, and performance.
Key CKLA features
Built out of the latest research in the Science of Reading, Amplify CKLA delivers explicit instruction in both foundational literacy skills (systematic phonics, decoding, and fluency) and background knowledge in Grades K–2, with an integrated approach to explicit instruction in Grades 3–5.
Review this Science of Reading Toolkit to learn more about the Science of Reading best practices integrated throughout CKLA.
Great reading instruction starts with great decoding skills. When students build a solid foundation of phonological awareness and phonics, reading the words on the page becomes automatic so that comprehension and critical thinking can happen.
Our instruction is supported by:
- Step-by-step lessons with multisensory approaches, clear lesson objectives, and embedded formative assessments.
- Unmatched, 100% decodable books and student readers that feature engaging plots and relatable characters.
- An engaging sound library with fun songs and videos that develop phonological awareness.
Students build grade-appropriate subject-area knowledge and vocabulary in history, science, literature, and the arts while learning to read, write, and think creatively and for themselves.
Our instruction is supported by:
- Knowledge builders that provide a quick overview of each domain with its key ideas.
- Interactive read-alouds designed to build knowledge and vocabulary.
- Content-rich anchor texts that support students as they tackle increasingly complex text and sharpen their analytical skills.
From the printed page to the screen, we bring foundational skills and knowledge of the world to your young learners, and make the transition from classroom to home learning seamless.
Download the Amplify CKLA Components Guide to see components by grade.
Amplify Caminos is an equitable Spanish language arts program for Grades K–5 that will engage your students and inspire them to become confident readers, writers, and thinkers.
Designed to support any biliteracy model (including ESL, transitional bilingual, dual language, and Spanish immersion), Amplify Caminos can be used in tandem with Amplify CKLA to provide a fully equitable, one-to-one English and Spanish solution.
Amplify ELA for Grade 6
Amplify ELA is a blended English language arts curriculum designed specifically to prepare middle school students for high school and beyond. This interactive core curriculum brings complex texts to life with lively classroom discussions and meaningful digital experiences in which students grapple with interesting ideas and find relevance for themselves.
Amplify ELA’s built-in 100-Day Pathway outlines required content for each grade level, while providing teachers time and space to teach the supplemental lessons and activities they love.
The program has received an all-green rating on EdReports—read the review.
Amplify ELA delivers:
- A unique research-based approach designed to get all students reading grade-level text together.
- An instructional design that inspires students to read more deeply, write more vividly, and think more critically.
- A rich combination of dynamic texts, lively discussions, and interactive Quests that engages and inspires middle school students.
EdReports and Knowledge Matters Campaign
Amplify CKLA for Grades K–5 is among the few elementary core curricula to be both rated all green on EdReports (earning green scores across all gateways) and recognized by the Knowledge Matters Campaign for its excellence in intentionally building knowledge. Amplify ELA for grade 6 also earned all-green scores on EdReports.
Access FCPS reviewer platform
To experience Amplify’s K–6 ELA programs for FCPS, complete the following steps.
Access your teacher demo account:
- Access the reviewer site.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter your teacher username: t1.fcps-demo@demo.tryamplify.net
- Enter your password: Amplify1-fcps-demo
Access your student demo account:
- Access the reviewer site.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter your student username: s1.fcps-demo@demo.tryamplify.net
- Enter your password: Amplify1-fcps-demo
VA correlations
CKLA Kindergarten correlation
CKLA Grade 1 correlation
CKLA Grade 2 correlation
CKLA Grade 3 correlation
CKLA Grade 4 correlation
CKLA Grade 5 correlation
Additional reviewer resources
Amplify CKLA Program Guide (Grades K–5)
Amplify ELA Program Guide (Grade 6)
Amplify biliteracy and Science of Reading principles
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
Text complexity
Trade books
Amplify CKLA meets Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) requirements
Get in touch
To learn more, contact Michael Kasloff at mkasloff@amplify.com.
Amplify K–3 CKLA resources for Georgia Department of Education
A powerful partnership
Amplify Science was developed by the science education experts at UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science and the digital learning team at Amplify. This partnership extends to 2032, allowing us to continuously improve our program and provide our customers with the most up-to-date enhancements, free of charge. Get a glimpse at our latest back-to-school updates here.
Instructional model
The Amplify Science program is rooted in the proven, research-based pedagogy of Do, Talk, Read, Write, Visualize. Here’s how each element works:

Phenomena-based approach
In each Amplify Science unit, students take on the roles of scientists or engineers in order to investigate a real-world problem. Students work to define the problem and collect and make sense of evidence. Once the context is clear, students collect evidence from multiple sources and through a variety of modalities. At the end of the unit, students are presented with a brand new problem, giving them an opportunity to apply what they’ve learned over the course of the unit to a new context. This represents a shift from asking students to learn about science to supporting students in figuring out the science.

Resources to support your review
- What’s so phenomenal about phenomena?—ebook
- Phenomena in grades K–5
- Phenomena in grades 6–8
- Student Books in grades K–5
- Literacy-rich science instruction in grades K–5
- Active Reading in grades 6–8
- Engineering in Amplify Science
- Amplify Science: See it in action
- EdReports—Compare resources
Remote and hybrid learning support

See an example of our remote and hybrid learning support below:
- K–5 example—Balancing Forces: Chapter 2, Lesson 2.3
- 6–8 example—Force and Motion: Chapter 3, Lesson 3.2
This fall, Amplify launched a new remote learning solution called Amplify Science@Home. Intended to make extended remote and hybrid learning easier, Amplify Science @Home includes two useful options for continuing instruction: @Home Videos and @Home Units.
Amplify Science @Home Videos are recordings of real Amplify Science teachers teaching the lessons. For those teachers who are unable to meet synchronously with their students, the recorded lessons are a great way to keep their students on track and engaged with Amplify Science while at home. These videos will be produced for all K–5 units, and for the first four units of each 6–8 grade level. Their release will be rolling, beginning in August.
Amplify Science @Home Units are modified versions of Amplify Science units, strategically designed to highlight key activities from the program. The @Home Units take significantly less instructional time than the complete Amplify Science program and allow students to engage with science at home. @Home Units will be developed for all Amplify Science K–8 units. Each @Home unit includes:
- Teacher overviews explaining how to use the materials, including suggestions for enhancing the @Home Units if synchronous learning or in-class time with students is available
- Overviews to send home to families
Student materials will be available in two formats:
- @Home Slides (PDF/PPT) + Student Sheets (PDF) for students with access to technology at home
- Downloadable @Home Packets (PDF) for students without access to technology at home
Download the remote and hybrid learning guide
Benchmark Assessments
Amplify’s Benchmark Assessments are designed to help teachers measure student progress toward the three dimensions—Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs), Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs), and Crosscutting Concepts(CCCs)—and performance expectations (PEs) of the NGSS. The assessments provide important insight into how students are progressing toward mastery of different standards ahead of high-stakes, end-of-year assessments.
The Benchmark Assessments are built to be delivered after specific units in the recommended Amplify Science scope and sequence.* They are given three or four times per year, depending on the grade level. The benchmarks are intended to show progress at various points in time across a school year, and are therefore not summative in nature. Digital items and item clusters are also tagged to specific NGSS standards, allowing customization to align with other course sequences. The assessments are available via the following platforms:
Print
PDF files: For administering Benchmark Assessments on paper
Digital platforms
- Illuminate
- SchoolCity
- Otus
- QTI (“Question and Test Interoperability”) files
Not sure whether QTI files are compatible with your assessment platform? Contact your school IT or assessment platform representative for more information.
Please note that Amplify is able to provide access to the QTI files themselves, but is not able to support the integration process. Your assessment platform provider should be able to assist with QTI file integration.
Flexible implementation
One of the key features of Amplify Science is the flexibility that it offers. We give students authentic opportunities to experience the full breadth of what it means to be a scientist or engineer. Just as scientists gather evidence from many types of sources, so do students in our program. Like scientists, students gather evidence not just from physical models, but also from digital models, texts, videos, photographs, maps, data sets, and even their peers!
Simply put, real scientists don’t just get messy—they read, write, analyze, hypothesize, model, test, and communicate with purpose, too.
Science articles
The middle school science articles serve as sources for evidence collection and were authored by science and literacy experts at the Lawrence Hall of Science.

Student Books
Beginning and young readers have unique developmental needs, and science instruction should support these students in reading more independently as they progress through sections of content, the school year, and each grade. One way Amplify Science meets these needs is by strategically deploying different modes of reading throughout each unit: Read-Aloud, Shared Reading, and Partner Reading.

Student Investigation Notebooks
Available for every unit, the Student Investigation Notebooks provide space for students to:
- record data.
- reflect on ideas from texts and investigations.
- construct explanations and arguments.
Available with full-color article compilations for middle school units.

Digital student experience
Students access the digital simulations and Modeling Tools, as well as lesson activities and assessments, through the digital student experience. Students can interact with the digital student experience as they:
- conduct hands-on investigations.
- engage in Active Reading and writing activities.
- participate in discussions.
- record observations.
- craft end-of-unit scientific arguments.
Dive into a quick example of our powerful simulations

Hands-on materials kits
Hands-on learning is at the heart of Amplify Science and is integrated
into every unit. Students actively take on the roles of scientists and engineers as they gather evidence, think critically, solve problems, and develop and defend claims about the world around them.
Check out these 2-minute videos to see an Amplify Science hands-on investigation in action.
- Grade 2: Hands-on investigation from Animal and Plant Relationships
- Grade 6: Hands-on investigation from Populations andResources
Each unit kit contains:
- consumable and non-consumable hands-on materials.
- print classroom display materials.
- premium print materials for student use (sorting cards, maps, etc.).

Teacher’s Guides
Available digitally and in print, the Teacher’s Guides contain all of the information teachers need to facilitate classroom instruction, including:
- detailed lesson plans.
- unit and chapter overview documentation.
- differentiation strategies.
- standards alignments.
- in-context professional development.

Scope and Sequence
Minnesota Academic Standards in Science coverage
Amplify Science was designed from the ground up to meet the NGSS, a set of standards that closely align with the K–8 Minnesota Academic Standards in Science (MASS). Therefore, most grade levels’ respective set of Amplify Science units address the necessary MASS (see K–5 reverse alignment and/or correlations for K–5 and 6–8). However, for grades 2–4, teachers should also use the resources provided in the sections below to achieve full coverage of the appropriate standards before their students move on to the next grade level. Organized by grade level, each section outlines:
- companion lesson materials that were written to support 100% alignment to the Minnesota Academic Standards in Science when used with the core Amplify Science units for the grade level
- the standard being addressed with each companion lesson; and
- the recommended placement of each companion lesson within a specific Amplify Science unit
Companion lesson: “Shelter”
Standard: 1P.4.2.2.1 Communicate solutions that use materials to provide shelter, food, or warmth needs for communities including Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities.* (P: 8, CC: 2, CI: PS1, ETS2)
Recommended placement: Following Lesson 5.1 of Spinning Earth
Materials: Shelter Classroom Slides and Student Sheet
Companion lesson: “Describing Climates”
Standard: 2E.4.2.1.2 Obtain and use information from multiple sources, including electronic sources, to describe climates in different regions of the world.** (P: 8, CC: 1, CI: ESS2)
Recommended placement: Following Lesson 4.5 of Changing Landforms
Materials: Describing Climates Classroom Slides and Student Sheet
Note: Students will further investigate the content in this standard, and revisit the book used in this companion lesson, in 3rd grade (Weather and Climate unit)
Companion lesson 1: Light and Vision
Standard: 3P.3.1.1.1 Develop a model to describe that light reflecting from objects and entering the eye allows objects to be seen. (P: 2, CC: 2, CI: PS4)
Recommended placement: Following Lesson 4.5 of Environments and Survival
Materials: Light and Vision Part 1 Classroom Slides and Student Sheet; Light and Vision Part 2 Classroom Slides and Student Sheet
Note: Students will further investigate the content in this standard, and revisit the book used in this companion lesson, in 4th grade (Vision and Light unit)
Companion lesson 2: Studying Stars
Standard: 3E.4.2.2.1 Gather information and communicate how Minnesota American Indian Tribes and communities and other cultures use patterns in stars to make predictions and plans. (P 8, CC: 1, CI: ESS1)
Recommended placement: Following Lesson 4.4 of Weather and Climate
Materials: Studying Stars Classroom Slides and Student Sheet
Note: Students will further investigate the content in this standard, and revisit the book used in this companion lesson, in 5th grade (Patterns of Earth and Sky unit)
Companion lesson 1: Salt Water and Freshwater
Standard: 4E.2.2.1.1 Interpret charts, maps and/or graphs of the amounts of salt water and fresh water in various reservoirs to provide evidence about the distribution of water on Earth.** (P: 5, CC: 4, CI: ESS2)
Recommended placement: Following Lesson 2.6 of Earth’s’ Features
Materials: Salt Water and Freshwater Classroom Slides and Student Sheet
Note: Students will further investigate the content in this standard, and revisit the book used in this companion lesson, in 5th grade (The Earth System unit)
Companion lesson 2: How Raindrops Form
Standard: 4E.1.1.1.2 Ask questions about how water moves through the Earth system and identify the type of question. (P: 1, CC: 5, CI: ESS2)
Recommended placement: Following Lesson 4.5 of Earth’s’ Features
Materials: How Raindrops Form Classroom Slides and Student Sheet
Note: Students will further investigate the content in this standard, and revisit the book used in this companion lesson, in 5th grade (The Earth System unit)
Explore the digital Teacher’s Guide
To familiarize yourself with navigation of the digital Teacher’s Guide, watch our navigational guide videos:
Grades K–5:
Grades 6–8:
Looking for help?
Powerful (and free!) pedagogical support
Amplify provides a unique kind of support you won’t find from other publishers. We’ve developed an educational support team of former teachers and administrators who provide pedagogical support for every Amplify curriculum, assessment, and intervention program. This service is completely free for all educators who are using our programs and includes:
- Guidance for developing lesson plans and intervention plans.
- Information on where to locate standards and other planning materials.
- Recommendations and tips for day-to-day teaching with Amplify programs.
- Support with administering and interpreting assessment data and more.
Timely technical and program support
Our technical and program support is included and available Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, through a variety of channels, including a live chat program that enables teachers to get immediate help in the middle of the school day.
Ready to dive in?
Contact your Minnesota representative:
Kristi Stengel
Account Executive
kstengel@amplify.com
(612) 306-3941
Tammy Sigwarth
Account Executive
tsigwarth@amplify.com
(563) 663-0056
Managing the change that matters most: Implementing the Science of Reading with integrity
Reading requires deliberate, systematic attention—and so does shifting to the Science of Reading in your school or district. It requires not only the correct curriculum, but also all-new mindsets, metrics, and more. Reflecting years of experience supporting real educators, our resources will walk you through the process of change management in your community—and show you why the shift is worth it.

How data drives Science of Reading change management
Making the shift requires meticulous planning, open communication, and most importantly, data. Learn how to harness data to drive your implementation forward.
Step 1: Prepare your team
Big change doesn’t happen without buy-in. We’ll help you take the crucial first step of getting your team on board.

Build a Science of Reading digital bookbag
Getting up to speed with the Science of Reading takes some homework. We’ve pulled some key resources into one place for you and your team.

Subscribe to Science of Reading: The Podcast
Tune in to our chart-topping Science of Reading podcast—which recently celebrated four million downloads—to keep up with the latest insights from experts and practitioners. Subscribe to listen to the latest episodes exploring relatable, real-life challenges faced by literacy educators—from managing small groups to delivering trauma-informed instruction—and visit the archives to binge Seasons 1 through 7!

Read The Knowledge Gap and Science of Reading: The Defining Guide
You’ll want to curl up with The Knowledge Gap, Natalie Wexler’s essential work making the case for the power of knowledge to fuel literacy. You can also get all the basics in Science of Reading: The Defining Guide by our friends at the Reading League.
Professional development to support your shift to the Science of Reading
Ignite literacy transformation with Amplify’s Science of Reading: The Learning Lab—an inspiring three-course series.
- Dive into a comprehensive overview with course one, Foundations to the Science of Reading.
- Examine assessments and their roles in course two, Advanced Topics in the Science of Reading: Assessment and Reading Difficulties.
- Apply effective literacy instruction to your classroom in course three, Applied Structured Literacy.
Crafted to the standards of the International Dyslexia Association, this self-paced online series provides unparalleled, research-backed instruction. Explore enriching activities, curated resources, and learn from Susan Lambert, chief academic officer and host of Science of Reading: The Podcast.
The best investment you can make is in knowledge, and the returns are priceless.

Learn more about the online courses or request a quote!

Tap into individual online course seats.
Step 2: Adopt the right program
Making the Science of Reading a reality in your school means choosing the right evidence-based curriculum.

Change management
Our Change Management Playbook is your trusted companion in transforming schools with proven strategies. Crafted alongside educators who have successfully pioneered change, this comprehensive guide lays out actionable steps and critical questions for each phase of your implementation journey.
Evaluate curricula and look out for red flags
A core literacy curriculum needs to be aligned with evidence-based practices every step of the way. This curriculum evaluation guide from the Reading League will walk you through the evaluation you need to conduct to ensure that you’re investing in only the best instruction for your students and teachers, and to know that the curriculum you’re selecting is true to the research.


Make the five most critical instructional shifts
Big change is best done gradually. That’s why we’ve identified five key shifts in reading instruction that will set you on the path to transforming your classroom with the Science of Reading.
Watch our Science of Reading webinars
In our Literacy Is Opportunity webinar series, you’ll learn why it’s crucial to get reading instruction right for all students—and how to make the shifts needed in your school.

Step 3: Build an evidence-based literacy ecosystem that supports all students
Science-based reading instruction can actually reduce the need for intervention and support. These principles and practices show how evidence and data build a culture of literacy for everyone.
Establish a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) grounded in the Science of Reading
A complete Science of Reading system is one that aligns with a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework. Because an MTSS includes all students—and stakeholders—it prevents struggles before they happen, setting everyone up for literacy success.


Explore Amplify’s Science of Reading early literacy suite
Built on more than 20 years of Science of Reading experience, our early literacy suite ensures that research-based and data-driven literacy practices are at the heart of everything you do. The suite includes every component of instruction, from assessment and personalized learning to intervention and professional development.
Bring the Science of Reading to middle school and biliteracy instruction
The Science of Reading can have an impact on learning outside of traditional K–5 literacy instruction, too—it can also address the specific needs of middle schoolers and multilingual students.
View our resources:

Step 4: Sustain change for long-term results
Educational change doesn’t happen overnight, or by itself. We’ve helped thousands of Science of Reading champions make the shift, and they’re eager to share the secrets of their long-term success with fellow educators like you.
What’s new
The Tech User Manual has been updated for EOY.
About mCLASS in Louisiana
The Louisiana Department of Education is committed to providing literacy instruction for all by:
- Aligning core curriculum, instruction, and assessments with the Science of Reading.
- Providing appropriate literacy interventions to address difficulty with reading development.
- Implementing practices based on the Science of Reading in every classroom, every day.
- Offering aligned resources to parents, guardians, and family members.
Built on decades of research at the Center on Teaching and Learning at the University of Oregon (a national center for early childhood assessment and instruction), the mCLASS suite meets Louisiana’s early literacy goals for its students with a robust core curriculum and a suite of reporting, grouping, lesson, and caregiver support features.
| DIBELS measures at each grade level | ||||
| Measure | Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 |
| Letter naming fluency | ||||
| Phonemic segmentation fluency | ||||
| Nonsense word fluency | ||||
| Word reading fluency | ||||
| Oral reading fluency | ||||
| Maze (basic comprehension) | ||||
Enrollment resources
EOY enrollment timeline:
- 3/3- 3/17: Admin Portal closed
- Students and staff are still able to log into mCLASS
- Students are still able to assess Progress Monitoring
- No EOY assessments taking place at this time
- Data Reporting (classroom and aggregate reports) is still available
- 3/18: Admin Portal reopens
- 4/1: EOY begins
Student Transfers:
For instructions on transferring students into a district from a different district within the state, see the Transferring Students section of the Test Coordinator Manual: K–3 EOY.
To add students to your district who are transferring to your school from outside of LDOE, please follow the process in the Enrolling Students section of this article.
End of Year and G3 Summer window resources
- Test Coordinator Manual (District and School Test Coordinators only): This manual provides instructions for administrative tasks for DTCs and STCs.
- Test Administrator Manual for the Secure K–2 End of Year Literacy Assessment: This manual for Test Administrators provides instructions for administering the secure EOY assessment.
- Test Administration Manual: Grade 3 End of Year Literacy Assessment: This manual for Test Administrators provides instructions for administering EOY assessment to Grade 3 students.
- Grade 3 Additional Attempts support video
- Tech User Guide: This manual for District and School Technology Coordinators provides instructions for installing the safe browser (Windows/Mac) or kiosk mode applications (Chromebook) needed for secure EOY assessment.
- Accessibility and Accommodations Manual: This manual includes information about the accessibility features offered for secure EOY assessment, as well as the standard DIBELS 8th Edition Accommodations.
- For information about student demographics in the Admin Portal, see LDOE Admin Portal: Demographics.
- New Troubleshooting for ChromeOS Kiosk Mode guide is available for Technology Coordinators supporting Test Administrators who encounter an error message when launching the Chrome kiosk mode applications.
How to: Install the Safe Exam Browser
This section provides instructions for installing the Safe Exam Browser (SEB), which is needed to assess K-2 students during EOY in Louisiana. Depending on your device type, download the SEB app from the Apple App Store or this site.
If you are using a Chromebook, you will use kiosk mode instead of the SEB. The Tech User Guide includes instructions for installing the applications needed to use kiosk mode, as well as instructions for installing the SEB and additional information to set up devices for secure End of Year (EOY) assessment.
Windows
Browser: Chrome (latest 2 versions)
- Download the desired installer file type:
- A download page opens in a new tab, displaying the download progress. When the download is complete, close the tab.
- For instructions on installing the SEB, see the Tech User Manual.
iPad
- Navigate to Safe Exam Browser in the App Store on your iPad.
- Tap the Safe Exam Browser app icon to open the app page.
- Tap Get to download and install the app.
- For instructions on installing the SEB, see the Tech User Manual.
macOS
- Download the DMG file.
- Depending on your browser, a download page may open in a new tab, displaying the download progress. When the download is complete, close the tab.
- For instructions on installing the SEB, see the Tech User Manual.
Progress Monitoring
This guide provides instructions for administering progress monitoring (PM) assessments in Louisiana schools.
Please note that the steps for accessing and administering PM assessments are different for schools with an mCLASS Intervention license than for schools that do not have an mCLASS Intervention license.
Amplify Tutoring: HDT driven by mCLASS data

Grounded in evidence-based practices and taught by caring, consistent tutors, our high-impact tutoring programs use high-quality instructional materials and data-driven mCLASS® products to empower students.
- Data-driven, personalized instruction
- Research-backed solutions tailored to support your MTSS framework
- Customizable–before, during or after school year-long, semester-long and summer programming
- Comprehensive program management and staffing support
Professional development
Amplify professional development (PD) provides learning experiences that intentionally develop the knowledge and skills you need for effective and self-sustaining implementation.
Go to the PD Library to access self-paced online courses, webinar recordings, videos, and more to help you learn how to administer and score the assessment and develop a deeper understanding of reporting and instruction.
If you are interested in purchasing additional PD for your school or district, please reach out to your account executive.
Additional mCLASS information
mCLASS gives you instant results and clear next steps for each student. Quick and actionable reports provide detailed insight into students’ reading development across foundational literacy skills for teachers, specialists, administrators, and caregivers.
View the EOY mCLASS Reporting Guide to learn more.
View the BOY/MOY mCLASS Reporting Guide to learn more.
Additional resources around mCLASS reporting can be found by navigating to the Programs & Apps section and then selecting PD Library.

To continue your own professional learning around the Science of Reading, join your colleagues who’ve subscribed to our podcasts and communities!
Science of Reading: The Podcast delivers the latest insights from researchers and practitioners in early reading. Further your professional development with each episode by subscribing and downloading now.
Science of Reading: The Community is built for those committed to fostering conversation around the Science of Reading and implementing best practices in the classroom (including the virtual classroom).
What does classroom instruction look like when it is based on Science of Reading practices? We’ve outlined a Science of Reading action plan to guide your evaluation in our new FREE ebook, Science of Reading: Making the shift.

The mCLASS Home Connect website houses literacy resources for parents and caregivers, including at-home lessons organized by skill to help students at home during remote learning. Our mCLASS parent/caregiver letters in English and Spanish ensure that families know how to best support their students.

mCLASS support
Our chat agents are standing by to assist you!
Simply log in at my.amplify.com/login/louisiana and select the orange button in the lower right corner to chat live with our support team.
Important note:
Our support hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT.
Check out the DIBELS 8 LDOE Help Center for more help at any point during implementation.

Additional Amplify products
Get in touch with us to learn more about bringing other high-quality Amplify programs to your school or district.
What is Boost Reading?
Boost Reading is a K–5 student-driven literacy program that provides both enrichment and remediation for all students, leveraging the power of compelling storytelling to engage students in personalized reading instruction and practice. It features:
- High quality, research-based instruction based on the science of reading
- Unparalleled personalized learning pathways
- Compelling and imaginative storylines
- Social and emotional learning
- Insightful reports tied to actionable next steps

How does Boost Reading work?
Boost Reading uses students’ latest reading assessment data to ensure they practice the right skills at the right time. In cases where no student assessment data is available, our embedded placement tool ensures students receive the content and skill practice most appropriate for their current reading level.
From there, students move through our curriculum along their own learning pathway where they encounter personalized content tailored to their evolving skill and grade levels.
Summary of games

With over 40 adaptive games, Boost Reading helps students of all levels grow across 13 critical skills areas, including explicit instruction in comprehension processes.
- Phonological awareness
- Letter sound correspondence
- Letter combinations
- Early decoding
- Advanced decoding
- Comprehension processes
- Key ideas and details
- Craft and structure
- Integration of knowledge and ideas
- Vocabulary
- Connected texts
- Fluency
- Close reading
See pages 16-78 of this guide for a detailed explanation of every game in the program.
How does Boost Reading integrate with the other parts of the literacy system?
Boost Reading + mCLASS® with DIBELS® 8th Edition
mCLASS automatically places students on an adaptive path within Boost Reading, which provides them the exact practice–both remediation and acceleration–that they need.
Click here to learn more about how Boost Reading and the mCLASS Assessment System work together.
Boost Reading + Amplify CKLA
Boost Reading extends core instruction with Amplify CKLA with personalized practice that follows the same scope and sequence.
Click here to learn more about how Boost Reading and Amplify CKLA work together.
What makes Boost Reading different?
Multiple dimensions
Boost Reading features full adaptivity. That means students progress along a pathway that adapts on multiple dimensions, not just one. For example, a student can work on early first-grade decoding in one game while building more advanced vocabulary knowledge in another.
Always-positive feedback
Boost Reading supports positive participation by giving students immediate and clear feedback. These results are never punitive. Instead our always-positive feedback is delivered in the context of the game world and is designed to motivate students to keep trying.
Focus on SEL
Sustained academic success depends upon social and emotional learning (SEL) as well as the mastery of fundamental literacy skills. Consistent with the most widely-recognized framework and standards for SEL (from the CASEL consortium, which includes 25 states), Boost Reading also focuses on the five areas of social and emotional learning:
- Self-awareness
- Self-management
- Social awareness
- Relationship skills
- Responsible decision-making
Ready-to-teach mini-lessons
Boost Reading turns data into action with reports that help educators know exactly who needs support and ready-to-teach mini-lessons that deliver targeted reinforcement and remediation.
Accelerated growth
Boost Reading accelerates student growth at all reading levels and reduces the number of students at risk of reading difficulty. In one study of 3rd graders in a large urban district who used Boost Reading for only one semester:
- 54% of students who used Boost Reading made above average progress, whereas only 44% of students in the comparison group made above average progress.
- 54% of English learners in that same study made above average growth, whereas only 45% of English learners in the comparison group made above average growth.
Check out the above results and more in this efficacy paper.
Demo access
Follow the instructions below to login to your demo account.
- Click the Boost Reading Demo button below.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter the username: atahan
- Enter the password: Abcd1234
- Click the mCLASS®: Boost Reading Edition tile.
Check out these additional resources
Boost Reading review resources:
What is Boost Reading?
Boost Reading is a K–5 student-driven literacy program that provides both enrichment and remediation for all students, leveraging the power of compelling storytelling to engage students in personalized reading instruction and practice. It features:
- High quality, research-based instruction based on the Science of Reading.
- Unparalleled personalized learning pathways.
- Compelling and imaginative storylines.
- Social and emotional learning.
- Insightful reports tied to actionable next steps.

How does Boost Reading work?
Boost Reading uses students’ latest reading assessment data to ensure they practice the right skills at the right time. In cases where no student assessment data is available, our embedded placement tool ensures students receive the content and skill practice most appropriate for their current reading level.
From there, students move through our curriculum along their own learning pathway where they encounter personalized content tailored to their evolving skill and grade levels.
Summary of games

With over 40 adaptive games, Boost Reading helps students of all levels grow across 13 critical skills areas, including explicit instruction in comprehension processes.
- Phonological awareness
- Letter sound correspondence
- Letter combinations
- Early decoding
- Advanced decoding
- Comprehension processes
- Key ideas and details
- Craft and structure
- Integration of knowledge and ideas
- Vocabulary
- Connected texts
- Fluency
- Close reading
See pages 16-78 of this guide for a detailed explanation of every game in the program.
What makes Boost Reading different?
Multiple dimensions
Boost Reading features full adaptivity. That means students progress along a pathway that adapts on multiple dimensions, not just one. For example, a student can work on early first-grade decoding in one game while building more advanced vocabulary knowledge in another.
Always-positive feedback
Boost Reading supports positive participation by giving students immediate and clear feedback. These results are never punitive. Instead our always-positive feedback is delivered in the context of the game world and is designed to motivate students to keep trying.
Focus on SEL
Sustained academic success depends upon social and emotional learning (SEL) as well as the mastery of fundamental literacy skills. Consistent with the most widely-recognized framework and standards for SEL (from the CASEL consortium, which includes 25 states), Boost Reading also focuses on the five areas of social and emotional learning:
- Self-awareness
- Self-management
- Social awareness
- Relationship skills
- Responsible decision-making
Ready-to-teach mini-lessons
Boost Reading turns data into action with reports that help educators know exactly who needs support and ready-to-teach mini-lessons that deliver targeted reinforcement and remediation.
Accelerated growth
Boost Reading accelerates student growth at all reading levels and reduces the number of students at risk of reading difficulty. In one study of 3rd graders in a large urban district who used Boost Reading for only one semester:
- 54% of students who used Boost Reading made above average progress, whereas only 44% of students in the comparison group made above average progress.
- 54% of English learners in that same study made above average growth, whereas only 45% of English learners in the comparison group made above average growth.
Check out the above results and more in this efficacy paper.
How does Boost Reading integrate with the other parts of the literacy system?
Boost Reading + mCLASS® with DIBELS® 8th Edition
mCLASS automatically places students on an adaptive path within Boost Reading, which provides them the exact practice–both remediation and acceleration–that they need.
Click here to learn more about how Boost Reading and the mCLASS Assessment System work together.
Boost Reading + Amplify CKLA
Boost Reading extends core instruction with Amplify CKLA with personalized practice that follows the same scope and sequence.
Click here to learn more about how Boost Reading and Amplify CKLA work together.
Check out these additional resources
Boost Reading review resources:
What is Boost Reading?
Boost Reading is a K–5 student-driven literacy program that provides both enrichment and remediation for all students, leveraging the power of compelling storytelling to engage students in personalized reading instruction and practice. It features:
- High quality, research-based instruction based on the Science of Reading.
- Unparalleled personalized learning pathways.
- Compelling and imaginative storylines.
- Social and emotional learning.
- Insightful reports tied to actionable next steps.

How does Boost Reading work?
Boost Reading uses students’ latest reading assessment data to ensure they practice the right skills at the right time. In cases where no student assessment data is available, our embedded placement tool ensures students receive the content and skill practice most appropriate for their current reading level.
From there, students move through our curriculum along their own learning pathway where they encounter personalized content tailored to their evolving skill and grade levels.
Summary of games

With over 40 adaptive games, Boost Reading helps students of all levels grow across 13 critical skills areas, including explicit instruction in comprehension processes.
- Phonological awareness
- Letter sound correspondence
- Letter combinations
- Early decoding
- Advanced decoding
- Comprehension processes
- Key ideas and details
- Craft and structure
- Integration of knowledge and ideas
- Vocabulary
- Connected texts
- Fluency
- Close reading
See pages 16-78 of this guide for a detailed explanation of every game in the program.
What makes Boost Reading different?
Multiple dimensions
Boost Reading features full adaptivity. That means students progress along a pathway that adapts on multiple dimensions, not just one. For example, a student can work on early first-grade decoding in one game while building more advanced vocabulary knowledge in another.
Always-positive feedback
Boost Reading supports positive participation by giving students immediate and clear feedback. These results are never punitive. Instead our always-positive feedback is delivered in the context of the game world and is designed to motivate students to keep trying.
Focus on SEL
Sustained academic success depends upon social and emotional learning (SEL) as well as the mastery of fundamental literacy skills. Consistent with the most widely-recognized framework and standards for SEL (from the CASEL consortium, which includes 25 states), Boost Reading also focuses on the five areas of social and emotional learning:
- Self-awareness
- Self-management
- Social awareness
- Relationship skills
- Responsible decision-making
Ready-to-teach mini-lessons
Boost Reading turns data into action with reports that help educators know exactly who needs support and ready-to-teach mini-lessons that deliver targeted reinforcement and remediation.
Accelerated growth
Boost Reading accelerates student growth at all reading levels and reduces the number of students at risk of reading difficulty. In one study of 3rd graders in a large urban district who used Boost Reading for only one semester:
- 54% of students who used Boost Reading made above average progress, whereas only 44% of students in the comparison group made above average progress.
- 54% of English learners in that same study made above average growth, whereas only 45% of English learners in the comparison group made above average growth.
Check out the above results and more in this efficacy paper.
How does Boost Reading integrate with the other parts of the literacy system?
Boost Reading + mCLASS® with DIBELS® 8th Edition
mCLASS automatically places students on an adaptive path within Boost Reading, which provides them the exact practice–both remediation and acceleration–that they need.
Click here to learn more about how Boost Reading and the mCLASS Assessment System work together.
Boost Reading + Amplify CKLA
Boost Reading extends core instruction with Amplify CKLA with personalized practice that follows the same scope and sequence.
Click here to learn more about how Boost Reading and Amplify CKLA work together.
Demo access
Follow the instructions below to login to your demo account.
- Click the Boost Reading Demo button below.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter the username: atahan
- Enter the password: Abcd1234
- Click the mCLASS®: Boost Reading Edition tile.
Check out these additional resources
Boost Reading review resources:
What is Boost Reading?
Boost Reading is a K–5 student-driven literacy program that provides both enrichment and remediation for all students, leveraging the power of compelling storytelling to engage students in personalized reading instruction and practice. It features:
- High quality, research-based instruction based on the Science of Reading.
- Unparalleled personalized learning pathways.
- Compelling and imaginative storylines.
- Insightful reports tied to actionable next steps.

How does Boost Reading work?
Boost Reading uses students’ latest reading assessment data to ensure they practice the right skills at the right time. In cases where no student assessment data is available, our embedded placement tool ensures students receive the content and skill practice most appropriate for their current reading level.
From there, students move through our curriculum along their own learning pathway where they encounter personalized content tailored to their evolving skill and grade levels.
Summary of games

With over 40 adaptive games, Boost Reading helps students of all levels grow across 13 critical skills areas, including explicit instruction in comprehension processes.
- Phonological awareness
- Letter sound correspondence
- Letter combinations
- Early decoding
- Advanced decoding
- Comprehension processes
- Key ideas and details
- Craft and structure
- Integration of knowledge and ideas
- Vocabulary
- Connected texts
- Fluency
- Close reading
See pages 16-78 of this guide for a detailed explanation of every game in the program.
What makes Boost Reading different?
Multiple dimensions
Boost Reading features full adaptivity. That means students progress along a pathway that adapts on multiple dimensions, not just one. For example, a student can work on early first-grade decoding in one game while building more advanced vocabulary knowledge in another.
Always-positive feedback
Boost Reading supports positive participation by giving students immediate and clear feedback. These results are never punitive. Instead our always-positive feedback is delivered in the context of the game world and is designed to motivate students to keep trying.
Ready-to-teach mini-lessons
Boost Reading turns data into action with reports that help educators know exactly who needs support and ready-to-teach mini-lessons that deliver targeted reinforcement and remediation.
Accelerated growth
Boost Reading accelerates student growth at all reading levels and reduces the number of students at risk of reading difficulty. In one study of 3rd graders in a large urban district who used Boost Reading for only one semester:
- 54% of students who used Boost Reading made above average progress, whereas only 44% of students in the comparison group made above average progress.
- 54% of English learners in that same study made above average growth, whereas only 45% of English learners in the comparison group made above average growth.
Check out the above results and more in this efficacy paper.
How does Boost Reading integrate with the other parts of the literacy system?
Boost Reading + mCLASS® with DIBELS® 8th Edition
mCLASS automatically places students on an adaptive path within Boost Reading, which provides them the exact practice–both remediation and acceleration–that they need.
Click here to learn more about how Boost Reading and the mCLASS Assessment System work together.
Boost Reading + Amplify CKLA
Boost Reading extends core instruction with Amplify CKLA with personalized practice that follows the same scope and sequence.
Click here to learn more about how Boost Reading and Amplify CKLA work together.
Demo access
Follow the instructions below to login to your demo account.
- Click the Boost Reading Demo button below.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter the username: atahan
- Enter the password: Abcd1234
- Click the mCLASS®: Boost Reading Edition tile.
- Follow the instructions on pages 5 and 6 of this document.
Check out these additional resources
Boost Reading review resources:
Inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and curious citizens
Amplify Science is a breakthrough curriculum designed to address the NYS Science Learning Standards. Authored by the industry-leading team at the Lawrence Hall of Science, Amplify Science is a highly-engaging, phenomena-based curriculum for grades K–8 that integrates the latest research and practices in science education, as well as interactive digital tools and hands-on activities, to teach students to think, read, write, and argue like real scientists and engineers.

Amplify Science for elementary school
Our complete program for grades K–5 recognizes the importance of students’ engagement with hands-on experiences, and amplifies those with literacy-rich activities, closely aligned digital materials and award-winning, informational books.
- Learn more about Amplify Science
- Review the K-5 NYSSLS Correlations
- Download the K-5 unit sequence
- Hear from K–5 teachers
Amplify Science for middle schools
Our complete program for grades 6–8 is a new curriculum that integrates the latest strategies in science teaching and learning with phenomena-driven storylines, hands-on investigations, and interactive digital tools to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Ready to learn more?
Ready to take a closer look? Request a sample of Amplify Science.
4 tools to help teachers better understand dyslexia

Despite variations in terminology, many professionals still consider dyslexia to be synonymous with the term “reading difficulty.” But a growing interest in the subject and a resurgence of the term in literacy research is increasing awareness of dyslexia’s neurobiological origins.
With things changing fast, it can be difficult to stay up to date on the latest research and instructional practices surrounding dyslexia. In this blog post, we’re providing four amazing reading materials to improve your understanding and ability to support struggling readers.
Defining dyslexia
Dyslexia is a critical topic in education these days — but what is it? This article from the Orton Gillingham Online Academy breaks down the International Dyslexia Association’s definition of dyslexia and what it means for students with this “hidden disability:”
“What is Dyslexia? Part 1” by Lorna Wooldridge
Dyslexia in your classroom
Students with dyslexia make up 15–20% of the school-age population, and are likely to be in every classroom. These fascinating statistics show just how present dyslexia is in the student population:
“Most Reading Difficulties Can Be Resolved or Diminished” by Carolyn Cowen
Dyslexic brains are wired differently, but intensive reading intervention can rewire them. Read about how science and technology are being used to understand what’s happening in a brain with dyslexia:
“How Science Is Rewiring the Dyslexic Brain” by Gabrielle Emanuel
Dyslexia: Fact and fiction
We know more about dyslexia now than ever before?—?can you distinguish between fact and fiction? Uncover the truths and myths of dyslexia now:
How can teachers find new energy in the science classroom?

Hear from our Science Connections: The Podcast guest and science PD expert Jessica Kesler
In the final episode of the latest season of Science Connections: The Podcast, host Eric Cross sits down with Jessica Kesler, professional development facilitator for science teachers.
During the episode, Kesler describes her passion for sharing high-impact teaching strategies for science teachers and her experiences teaching in Philadelphia, and discusses how teachers’ roles often involve more than just delivering content.
Read on for a peek at the episode, and to learn more about science professional development for teachers.
Meet Jessica Kesler
“I wanted to be a surgeon,” says Kesler. But learning about science ultimately inspired her to help others learn it, too. Her passion is to empower educators to create engaging and effective classrooms that will foster future leaders, work she is able to do in her role as a professional development facilitator at TGR Foundation, a Tiger Woods charity. This position enables her to develop and implement professional learning experiences focused on STEM-based, student-centered learning practices.

Before joining the TGR Foundation, she taught in Philadelphia schools as a chemistry and science teacher for grades 4–12, which was a bit of a culture shock. Kesler had gone from teaching near-adults who could drive themselves to school to teaching young children who often related to teachers as parent figures. The experience taught her a lot about “patience and breaking information down even smaller,” she says.
I had to figure out new and inventive ways to teach science and bring it down so far that students would be able to grab onto it and achieve it. It was a challenge,” she continues. “But in the end it paid off. We hit our goals out of the park.
Teachers are the multipliers we need
Kesler and her team at the TGR Foundation designed their goals around a challenge issued by Tiger Woods himself: Reach millions of kids.
They knew that reaching one student at a time would make it hard to reach their goals.
The key? Focus on teachers, who can reach hundreds of students at a time. “They can have this multiplicative effect that can help us reach those millions of kids and help prepare them for careers,” she says.
Here are just a few of the teaching strategies and pieces of advice they offer science educators:
- Develop your inquiry environment. This means thinking not just about your physical space, but also your intellectual space. Kesler asks: “What are the things that you can embed into your physical space and develop in a student’s intellectual space that will help you create a holistic and growing environment?”
- Be the entrepreneur of your classroom. Kesler and her team like to ask how a teacher can use entrepreneurial techniques to tackle issues in their schools, districts, and spheres of influence.
Teacher trends emerging as the pandemic shifts
“Teachers are eager, but tired,” says Kesler. She notes that while school may be back in session, educators are still managing the effects of the pandemic and trying to get kids excited (and keep them excited) about science.
While teachers want to learn and do more, they are more concerned than ever about having enough time, funding, and energy to do so.
Says Kesler: “I know you don’t have enough time to try to do 29 extra things. My advice is always: Do one thing at a time. Start with something small. Asking your students a few questions rather than lecturing to them doesn’t take a whole lot of extra time, but it gives you so much extra insight. So let’s not work harder. Let’s work smarter.”
She continues: “It’s not Thanksgiving, where you just keep piling on a plate. It’s a time where you organize your inquiry to restructure your plates so that everything has a place and a time.”
Listen to the whole episode and to the rest of the podcast.
About Amplify’s Science Connections: The Podcast
Science is changing before our eyes, now more than ever. So how do we help kids figure that out? How are we preparing students to be the next generation of 21st-century scientists?
Join host Eric Cross as he sits down with educators, scientists, and knowledge experts to discuss how we can best support students in science classrooms. Listen to hear how you can inspire kids across the country to love learning science, and bring that magic into your classroom for your students.
2025
September 18, 2025
Edutopia: “Using Virtual Manipulatives in Math Class”
August 19, 2025
Education Week: “Here’s Why It’s Important for Teachers to Have a Say in Curriculum”
August 18, 2025
Investors Hangout: “Amplify Classroom Revolutionizes K-12 Teaching Experience”
August 5, 2025
WhaTech: “K-12 Online Education Market Set for Strong Expansion, Reaching $349.77 Billion by 2029”
August 4, 2025
Education Week: “Districts Using ‘High-Quality’ Reading Curricula Still Supplement With Other Materials. Why?”
July 9, 2025
K-12 Dive: “Youngest students see big reading gains post-COVID on DIBELS assessment”
June 25, 2025
The 74: “How Districts in Georgia, Maryland and D.C. Are Raising Reading Proficiency”
May 28, 2025
Open PR: “K-12 Online Education Market Forecast 2025-2034: Comprehensive Analysis And Growth Opportunities”
May 27, 2025
District Administration: “Early literacy: How to implement programs that start strong”
May 20, 2025
EdSource: “California schools prepare to introduce universal reading screening”
April 23, 2025
The 74: “Eric Adams Expands Reading, Math Curriculum Mandates to All NYC Middle Schools”
April 21, 2025
Daily News: “NYC expanding reading, math curriculum overhaul to more schools”
March 19, 2025
Education Next: “School Reinvention in Practice”
February 28, 2025
K-12 Dive, “Test yourself on this week’s K-12 news”
February 26, 2025
K-12 Dive: “Only 56% of K-2 students are ready to read”
January 24, 2025
Chalkbeat Philadelphia: “Two AI-powered charter schools could soon open in Pennsylvania”
January 16, 2025
Tech & Learning: “What is Polypad and How Can Teachers Use It?”
2024
December 18, 2024
EdSource: “State takes another step toward mandatory testing for reading difficulties in 2025”
December 6, 2024
Chalkbeat Philadelphia: “Philadelphia is now spending over $100 million on its curriculum overhaul. Here’s a breakdown.”
November 27, 2024
Lincoln Journal Star: “Lincoln Public Schools drops a classification rating on statewide assessment”
November 6, 2024
EdNC: “New K-3 literacy data shows growth in skills for North Carolina students”
October 1, 2024
The 74: “As NY District Implements Science of Reading, Parents Push for New Focus on Math”
September 18, 2024
Tech & Learning: “Tech & Learning Announces Winners of Best for Back to School 2024”
August 22, 2024
Chalkbeat Philadelphia: “Philadelphia school board renews charters, funds tutoring and a new science curriculum”
August 2, 2024
EdNC: “‘Dedication of our teachers’ praised in an update on the state’s science of reading journey”
July 31, 2024
The 74: “Classroom Case Study: To Maximize the Impact of Curriculum Mandates, Follow the Science of Reading”
July 23, 2024
Chalkbeat: “Should teachers customize their lessons or just stick to the ‘script’?”
July 7, 2024
The Economist: “Will artificial intelligence transform school?”
June 24, 2024
Chalkbeat: “Math instruction overhaul: NYC unveils new curriculum mandate for middle and high schools”
June 6, 2024
EdNC: “Perspective | Teachers are the heroes of the literacy story in North Carolina”
May 24, 2024
The Dallas Morning News: “How Don Quixote changed a Dallas public school classroom”
May 2, 2024
Akron.com: “Tutoring program at Summit Academy Akron Elementary School attracts national interest”
April 25, 2024
Edutopia: “Using Tech Tools to Energize Young Students’ Math Learning”
April 4, 2024
EdNC: “State Board hears update on district ESSER spending, literacy data, and Restart schools”
March 22, 2024
Thomas B Fordham Institute: “Five takeaways from Ohio’s baseline survey of elementary reading curricula”
March 15, 2024
The 74: “New Data: Despite K-2 Reading Gains, Students Face a ‘Much Harder Journey’ Ahead”
March 5, 2024
The 74: “Case Study: How One Texas School District Is Repurposing Staff Development Time to Embrace the Science of Reading”
February 21, 2024
Times Record News: “UPDATED: Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath likes what he sees at local school”
February 19, 2024
Chalkbeat: “Chicago Public Schools recover from pandemic declines more than other districts, study shows”
February 7, 2024
The 74: “Building Oral Language Skills and Equity Through High-Quality Reading Curriculum”
2023
December 19, 2023
The 74: “Best Education Articles of 2023: Our 23 Most Important Stories About Students, Schools & Learning Recovery ”
December 8, 2023
Education Week: “Aligned Science Curriculum, Better Scores? Research Finds a Connection”
December 6, 2023
WRAL News: “Reading readiness rises in NC’s K-3 classrooms, new data shows”
November 27, 2023
The Dallas Morning News: “Dallas’ new lessons aim to keep kids on track, but some worry about limiting teachers”
November 2, 2023
Fort Worth Report: “Black students in Fort Worth ISD still struggle to read at grade level”
October 31, 2023
Chicago Tribune: “Lake Forest-area schools take stock of state grades; ‘While we celebrate our successes, we acknowledge that the journey … is ongoing’”
October 19, 2023
Chalkbeat: “NYC eyes middle and high school literacy overhaul. It’s asking families to weigh in.”
October 16, 2023
The 74: “As Virginia Rolls Out Ambitious Statewide High-Dosage Tutoring Effort This Week, 3 Keys to Success”
October 6, 2023
Language Magazine: “Embracing Bilingual Assessment”
September 18, 2023
Tech & Learning: “Best for Back to School 2023”
September 18, 2023
Chalkbeat: “Chicago Public Schools hired hundreds of tutors with federal COVID money. Can they keep them?”
September 7, 2023
EdNC: “Perspective | Union County Public Schools empowers educators, elevates readers”
August 14, 2023
Chicago Parent: “Common Core Math: How to Help Your Kids”
August 6, 2023
The News & Observer: “NC sees big increase in reading skills among K-3 students. Is the state back on track?”
August 4, 2023
The 74: “Slow Literacy Gains, Long COVID in Kids: 7 Insights into Pandemic Recovery and Aftermath in U.S. Schools”
August 3, 2023
EdNC: “State Board of Education: New reading data, parental leave, and a call to support public schools”
July 28, 2023
Houston Public Media: “New literacy curriculum is among the many changes coming to HISD”
July 17, 2023
Houston Chronicle: “Mike Miles says HISD schools will teach the ‘science of reading.’ Here’s what that means.”
July 11, 2023
The 74: “‘Education’s Long COVID’: New Data Shows Recovery Stalled for Most Students”
July 6, 2023
Houston Chronicle: “HISD superintendent gives voluntary schools one last chance to back out of New Education System”
June 29, 2023
The Report Card: “Larry Berger on Curriculum”
June 2, 2023
EdWeek Market Brief:”K-12 Dealmaking: Substitute Teaching Startup Secures $38M; Amplify Raises Undisclosed Series C”
May 25, 2023
The 74: “Expanding Access to Tutors: Nonprofit Grants $6 Million to 32 Learning Organizations Across 20 States to Help More Students”
April 21, 2023
The 74: “The ‘Transformation is Real’ as Science of Reading Takes Hold in N.C. Schools”
April 18, 2023
The 74: “Louisiana District Ravaged by Hurricane & COVID is Bouncing Back with Science”
April 5, 2023
WFAE: “NC midyear reading data shows gains, but third-grade goals remain elusive”
April 5, 2023
EdNC: “K-3 students show growth in literacy skills, mid-year DPI data show”
March 24, 2023
The 74: “COVID & School Recovery: Critics Warn Washington Bill Would Reduce Classroom Learning Time By 4 Hours a Week”
March 24, 2023
Edutopia: “Using Collective Leadership to Make a Major Shift in Your District”
March 15, 2023
K-12 Dive: “California at center of latest push for science-based reading approaches”
March 7, 2023
District Administration: “ESSER pressure: How one district intends to spend wisely as deadline looms”
March 3, 2023
The 74: “‘The Other Long COVID’ Affecting Kids: Missed Opportunities”
March 2, 2023
3 WTKR: “More students on track to learn to read in 2022-2023 school year since start of pandemic, researchers say”
March 2, 2023
ABC 7: “Reading skills rebounding for young students following pandemic disruptions”
March 1, 2023
K-12 Dive: “By The Numbers: DIBELS testing shows improved reading progress over last two years”
February 27, 2023
The 74: “Exclusive: Despite K-2 Reading Gains, Results Flat for 3rd Grade ‘COVID Kids’”
February 27, 2023
Education Week: “Students’ Early Literacy Skills Are Rebounding. See What the Data Show”
February 7, 2023
The 74: “Using High-Quality Curriculum Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Still Have Fun Learning”
January 13, 2023
NPR: “Can a middle school class help scientists create a cooler place to play?”
January 6, 2023
News & Record: “After a numbing low, NC students now heading in ‘right direction’ in reading, math”
January 5, 2023
CBS17.com: “K-3 students in NC make significant strides on literacy exams, DPI says”
2022
December 20, 2022
District Administration: “Literacy Under the Lights: 10 ways to bring the community back together”
December 14, 2022
The 74: “14 Charts This Year That Helped Us Better Understand Covid’s Impact On Students Teachers and Schools”
December 14, 2022
The 74: “Learning Loss Is Worse than NAEP Showed. Middle School Math Must Be the Priority”
November 21, 2022
Voicebot.ai: “SoapBox Labs Brings Child-Centered Voice AI to Dyslexia Detection Assessment”
October 24, 2022
Education Week: “Two Decades of Progress, Nearly Gone: National Math, Reading Scores Hit Historic Lows”
October 20, 2022
The 74: “Exclusive Literacy Data: Small Gains Since Last Fall, But No Reading Rebound”
August 30, 2022
The 74: “Test English Learners in the Languages They Speak at School and at Home”
August 29, 2022
WTKR TV NC: “News 3 investigates childhood literacy rates, raising money to give books to local kids for new school year”
August 28, 2022
EdNC: “Elementary students made growth last year in skills that lead to reading proficiency, new data show”
August 18, 2022
SHRM Blog: “The Great Resignation Skipped Us. Here’s why.”
August 16, 2022
Forbes: “Curious About Knowledge-Building Curricula? Check Out This Website”
July 20, 2022
District Administration: “Out-of-school STEM learning is much more powerful when it’s inclusive”
July 19, 2022
Chalkbeat: “The state of learning loss: 7 takeaways from the latest data”
June 28, 2022
The Preschool Podcast: “Early literacy strategies that stick with Darryl from Run-DMC and Makeda from Nickelodeon [Podcast]”
May 24, 2022
Forbes: “States That Want To Boost Literacy Should Keep An Eye On Texas”
April 24, 2022
Business Ecosystem Alliance: “Ecosystems in Education–Collaborating to Efficiently Serve the End User”
April 18, 2022
KQED Mind Shift: “Weighing the best strategies for reading intervention”
April 15, 2022
Fordham Institute: “Assessing a standards-aligned physical science curriculum”
March 23, 2022
The Baltimore Sun: “National test scores show student gains from in-person learning in all but a critical group: new and pre-readers | COMMENTARY”
March 15, 2022
NPR: “Two years ago schools shut down around the world. These are the biggest impacts”
March 11, 2022
The Hub – Dallas ISD: “Students at Greiner and Anson Jones Elementary find success in reading and writing with a new program”
March 10, 2022
NY Daily News: “Read it and weep: The new reading instruction emergency”
March 10, 2022
WISH TV Indianapolis: “Study shows student performance plummeted during pandemic”
March 9, 2022
New York Post: “Young students have suffered ‘alarming’ drops in reading skills during pandemic”
March 9, 2022
The Daily Caller: “Childhood Literacy Plummeted Following Pandemic Shutdowns, Studies Show”
March 8, 2022
The New York Times: “It’s ‘Alarming’: Children Are Severely Behind in Reading”
March 7, 2022
Education Next: “The Education Exchange: Pandemic Hurt Younger Students’ Learning Worse, Amplify Data Suggest”
February 28, 2022
The 74: “Our 12 Best Education Articles in February: Reflections on 700 Days of COVID Chaos, Setting a Bar for Unmasking in Schools, Burying Schools in Record Requests & More”
February 24, 2022
The Daily Advertiser: “Reading scores improve slightly, but pre-COVID reading levels are ‘the wrong goal’”
February 24, 2022
Wall Street Journal: “The School Shutdowns and Lost Literacy”
February 23, 2022
K-12 Dive: “DIBELS data illustrates pandemic reading setbacks”
February 22, 2022
ABC 7 Buffalo: “Children falling behind in reading”
February 18, 2022
The Carolina Journal: “Report: Elementary students lag in literacy due to pandemic”
February 16, 2022
The 74: “‘We Have First-Graders Who Can’t Sing the Alphabet Song’: Pandemic Continues to Push Young Readers Off Track, New Data Shows”
February 16, 2022
Education Week: “More Than 1 in 3 Children Who Started School in the Pandemic Need ‘Intensive’ Reading Help”
February 4, 2022
Literary Hub: “EXCLUSIVE: Watch Joshua Bennett Discuss A.R. Ammons’s poem “Cascadilla Falls”
January 26, 2022
The Ross Kaminsky Show: “Susan Lambert and the Literacy Gap”
January 19, 2022
K-12 Dive: “Report: Colorado reading law update boosts quality of literacy curriculum”
2021
December 15, 2021
Chalkbeat: “How Denver plans to address a drop in early elementary reading scores”
December 8, 2021
The SHRM Blog: “What’s the Best Work Perk of All? Contributing to the Social Good”
November 13, 2021
Hechinger Report: ‘The Reading Year’: First grade is critical for reading skills, but kids coming from disrupted kindergarten experiences are way behind”
October 20, 2021
Hechinger Report: “OPINION: Younger students were among those most hurt during the pandemic”
September 2, 2021
EdSurge: “An Edtech User’s Glossary to Speech Recognition and AI in the Classroom”
September, 2021
SIIA Education: “ED TECH SUCCESS STORIES”
August 23, 2021
CNN: “Irish tech firm helps kids’ voices be heard”
August 18, 2021
SoapBox Labs: “Can Speech Recognition Help Children Learn to Read?”
August 12, 2021
FOX Chicago Broadcast Interview: “Pandemic widens literacy gap for students”
August 3, 2021
T.H.E Journal: “More Students of Color at Risk in Reading After Pandemic”
July 28, 2021
The 74: “Early Reading Skills See a Rebound From In-Person Learning, But Racial Gaps Have Grown Wider, Tests Show”
July 28, 2021
K-12 Dive: “Reports: Math, reading progress slowed during first full school year of pandemic”
July 20, 2021
EdNC: “The mCLASS reading assessment tool is back in North Carolina classrooms, but it’s going to look different”
July 5, 2021
WBAL: “Baltimore students from all socio-economic backgrounds get a chance to ‘Amplify’ their learning skills”
June 15, 2021
Language Magazine: “Using Evidence to Overcome Adversity”
May 7, 2021
The Dallas Morning News: “How can a one-minute kindergarten test help teachers tackle the ‘COVID slide’?”
April 20, 2021
Education Week: “How Teachers and Curriculum Will Shape Ed Tech’s Future: A CEO Makes the Case”
March 24, 2021
The Hechinger Report: “OPINION: Children will need summer tutors to make up for pandemic learning loss”
March 23, 2021
Education Week: “Most States Fail to Measure Teachers’ Knowledge of the ‘Science of Reading,’ Report Says”
March 17, 2021
Axios: “How online education and tutoring could fight COVID learning loss”
March 16, 2021
USA Today: “Students are struggling to read behind masks and screens during COVID-19, but ‘expectations are no different’”
March 16, 2021
The 74: “Schools and COVID, a Year Later: 12 Months After Classrooms Closed, 12 Key Things We’ve Learned About How the Pandemic Disrupted Student Learning”
February 25, 2021
K–12 Dive: “Reading gaps widen in mid-year data, especially for K-1 students of color”
February 24, 2021
The 74: “One Year into Pandemic, Far Fewer Young Students are on Target to Learn How to Read, Tests Show”
February 17, 2021
NBC Los Angeles: “Local Students Design Rovers in Mission to Mars Student Challenge”
February 5, 2021
District Administration: “To save literacy, focus first on high-quality core instruction”
February 4, 2021
The Hechinger Report: “5 ways schools hope to fight Covid-19 learning loss”
January 5, 2021
The 74: “Science Matters Now More than Ever. The Time to Start Teaching It Is in Elementary School”
2020
December 15, 2020
Education Week: “Students’ Reading Losses Could Strain Schools’ Capacity to Help Them Catch Up”
December 9, 2020
Education Post: “How to Help Beginning Readers During the Pandemic”
December 3, 2020
American Consortium for Equity in Education: “The Importance of Quality Curriculum With Industry Voice”
September 29, 2020
The 74: “Beyond the Scantron: Ed Tech CEO Larry Berger on Why the Pandemic Is No Excuse to Abscond Accountability and ‘Disruptions Are Great Opportunities to Try Something New’”
May 25, 2020
The 74: “Class Disrupted Podcast Episode 2: Why Is My Child Doing So Many Worksheets Right Now?”
February 5, 2020
Getting Smart Podcast: “Larry Berger on EdTech Past and Future”
How we build inclusive, high-quality programs
At Amplify, we support teachers in delivering inspiring, impactful lessons that celebrate and develop the thinking of all their students. We build our inclusive, high-quality programs by partnering with editorial and accessibility experts.

Editorial
Amplify has a dedicated Editorial Team that partners with product teams, subject matter experts, and an internal advisory Editorial Board to ensure that our products meet Amplify’s high standards for quality and embody our purpose and commitment. Through multiple rounds of product review, the Editorial Team coordinates input from internal and external experts and advisors to ensure that Amplify’s materials are engaging, rigorous, and accurate. The Editorial Team also makes certain that all materials are age-appropriate for students and align with current or pending state, district, and other policies.
Our approach to accessibility
Amplify creates products that serve the needs of all learners, including those with disabilities. We refine our practices regularly and incorporate feedback from our users and accessibility experts.
Amplify works with third-party experts in digital accessibility to help ensure that we build and maintain our products in accordance with the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and other relevant legal requirements. How we do it:
- Integrated accessibility practices: We embed accessibility considerations into our product development lifecycles. We also implement training and vendor management programs that support compliance with applicable standards, guidelines, and best practices.
- Structured, accessible content: We create well-structured, easily navigable content that meets diverse user needs, including clear, readable text, properly labeled multimedia, and logical organization of information.
- Development and testing for accessibility: We work with third-party experts to conduct assessments against accessibility standards and develop remediation plans if deficiencies are identified. Our internal quality assurance protocols include scenarios that test functionality for users with disabilities.
- Comprehensive training and support: We provide continuous training and resources for team members involved in developing our products to help them understand and implement accessibility requirements. This includes training on the latest WCAG guidelines and updates on industry and legal standards.
- Inclusive design patterns: We prioritize accessible design patterns to create interfaces that are intuitive for users.
In addition, all student-facing print components are available in the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) database, and all student-facing PDFs in Amplify curriculum are formatted to be compatible with screen readers.
If you want to provide feedback about the accessibility of Amplify’s products or this website, or if you want to discuss accommodations to help you use our products or this website, please contact help@amplify.com or +1 (800) 823-1969 (hours: 7 a.m.–7 p.m. ET).
Learn more about the impact of our programs.
Amplify’s high-quality programs benefit millions of students every day using methods that are evidence-based, ESSA-aligned, and showing efficacy in a variety of contexts. Read more about our programs in the following case study and report.
Case study: Making an impact with Aldine ISD
Aldine Independent School District serves 62,000 students in Texas. Forty-two percent are English language learners, and more than 90 percent are economically disadvantaged. After two years of using Amplify’s early literacy suite, the number of Aldine ISD elementary students reading at or above grade level rose from 30 percent to 50 percent.


Report: Advancing Spanish literacy with Boost Lectura
Boost Lectura is proven to support Spanish literacy skills critical for reading development. Students who used Boost Lectura for 30–45 minutes a week outperformed their peers on universal screening assessments of Spanish literacy across grades K–2—and were more likely to meet or exceed benchmarks by the middle of the school year.
Alert: Progress in early literacy is slowing.

The latest middle-of-school-year data from Amplify show that throughout the spring and fall of 2023, schools across the country made some progress increasing the number of K–2 students on track for learning to read. But that progress is slowing.
Between 2021–2022 and 2022–2023, the number of K–2 students on track for learning to read increased by four to five percent across all grades; however, between 2022–2023 and 2023–2024, the increase was only two percent in each grade. Yet this is not the time for slow progress, because literacy rates in the United States are already a concern. Only half of K–2 students are on track for learning to read, and three in ten students are far behind.
To address slowing gains, schools and districts need to act now to accelerate literacy outcomes.
Early reading: Why we need to act now
The decline is especially urgent for students in kindergarten through the second grade. That’s because of what comes next: third grade, known to be the make-or-break year for reading and future academic success. To put it bluntly, students who are not proficient in reading before entering fourth grade are much more likely than their peers to struggle in school, and they are much more likely to drop out.
“The data is clear—literacy rates at the earliest and most critical time for student development are slowing. Changing this course requires schools and districts to act now and review their approaches in all grades,” says Susan Lambert, chief academic officer of elementary humanities at Amplify. “Schools that deliver strong outcomes focus on building a solid foundation at the start and intervening quickly when students need extra support, rather than trying to play catch up later, when it can be more difficult.”
The good news: We know what to do.
When students receive science-based reading instruction, literacy outcomes improve.
Changing these outcomes requires that districts and schools review the processes and practices they have in place at all levels. Schools that deliver strong outcomes focus on getting students on track—and often ahead—in the earliest grades, because it’s easier to get students ahead from the beginning than to catch them up later.
Districts should:
- Administer universal screening assessments three times per year to monitor levels of risk for reading difficulties.
- Allocate staff to support students who are at risk, spending additional time in literacy instruction beyond grade-level instruction.
- Regularly monitor progress for students who are at risk, making adjustments as needed.
- Ensure that instructional staff gain knowledge about science-based reading instruction and implement high-quality core curriculum with fidelity.
- Instill a love of reading and books during all school-based programs, with the support of caregivers and the community.
“The good news is that when students receive science-based reading instruction, outcomes improve,” Lambert continues. “And, when that instruction takes place in the earliest possible grades, research shows that most students can be taught to read at or approaching grade level.”
More to explore
MTSS: The key to success

What helps students succeed in reading? It’s not just one tool, or even one toolkit. Ideally, they’ve got a whole ecosystem—from the latest science to bedtime stories—supporting them in learning to read.
So it makes sense that a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is critical to literary instruction in the classroom.
What exactly is an MTSS? How does it align with the Science of Reading? And how do they help you support your students?
MTSS, literacy instruction, and the Science of Reading
First, a broad definition.
A Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is a comprehensive framework designed to provide systematic and differentiated support to all students. The tiered approach includes universal interventions for all learners, targeted interventions for those at risk, and intensive interventions for students with specific needs. The goal of an MTSS is to use data-driven decision-making and personalized support to improve academic, behavioral, and emotional outcomes for every student.
And that’s exactly what an MTSS does in the context of literacy instruction. An MTSS operates on the premise that readers have diverse requirements, and it aims to proactively identify and address these needs through a multi-tiered approach.
That’s where it intersects with the Science of Reading. As you know, the Science of Reading refers to the pedagogy and practices that extensive research has found to be most effective for teaching children to read. When implemented in a classroom, the Science of Reading is part of a system—one that aligns with a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).
What’s the difference between an MTSS and RTI?
MTSS vs. RTI: You’ve probably heard these systems mentioned in similar contexts. But just like new readers, we’ve got to learn our letters.
RTI stands for Response to Intervention, so its very name shows that it’s a response to an identified problem. Actually, it’s a series of academic responses that use data to pinpoint and address the specific challenges of struggling students.
An MTSS and an RTI are similar in that “they are both problem-solving models,” notes Brittney Bills, Ph.D., elementary school principal at Blair Community Schools, speaking with host Susan Lambert on Amplify’s Science of Reading: The Podcast.
And they can be intertwined. But they are not interchangeable. In fact, an RTI is part of an MTSS framework—not the other way around. Also:
- An MTSS starts with all students. “With the MTSS model, the universal tier is the first intervention for all students,” says Bills, referring to the curriculum, instruction, and assessments provided to all students at a given grade level. Bills says we can ask: “What does our data demonstrate that our students need within that universal tier? And how can we apply evidence-based practices, as they relate to the Science of Reading, to beef up opportunities for our students there first? Then it’s a layering-on of supports and problem-solving at those other layers, the targeted and intensive tiers, after that.”
- An MTSS supports prevention. Again, we start universal, then identify issues. Though an RTI is necessary and effective, an MTSS has the aim, and the capacity, to both get at-risk readers back on track and prevent the need for intervention down the line.
The four defining parts of an MTSS
Now, let’s break down the four key components that define an MTSS:
- Screening: An MTSS begins with screening to identify students’ proficiency in foundational literacy skills. Screening helps you pinpoint potential challenges in literacy early on, making it possible to tailor interventions for individual students and head problems off at the pass.
- Progress monitoring: An MTSS helps you regularly assess and track students’ literacy progress, allowing you to adjust instructional strategies based on real-time data and evolving needs.
- Establishing a multi-level prevention system: The multi-level prevention system allows you to adapt to accommodate diverse learning styles and precise learning needs. This personalized approach both supports those at risk and helps build an inclusive classroom where every reader can thrive.
- Making data-based decisions: An MTSS gives you the data you need—and guides you in analyzing it—to make the precise adjustments that support every student’s literacy journey.
An MTSS is a dynamic approach that recognizes that every student is different—and that to provide each with what they need to learn to read, teachers need systems of support, too.
More to explore
mCLASS Lectura Review for Colorado
mCLASS® Lectura for SFUSD
mCLASS® Lectura is the brand-new Spanish-language counterpart to the mCLASS® with DIBELS® 8th Edition comprehensive diagnostic assessment system. Its screening, diagnostic assessment, and progress monitoring measures gauge student progress toward reading proficiency, and helps identify students who may be at risk of future reading difficulties such as dyslexia.
What is mCLASS?
mCLASS is a best-in-class assessment platform that houses a suite of proven, gold-standard assessment measures and tools that can be flexibly combined to meet the unique literacy needs of both teachers and students across grades K–6, including:
- Universal screening
- Diagnostic assessment
- Text Reading and Comprehension (a.k.a. running records via Amplify Atlas Español)
- Dyslexia screening
- Progress monitoring
- Dual language reporting
- Targeted teacher-led instruction
What is the Lectura assessment?
The Lectura assessment is a brand-new interim and diagnostic assessment that consists of measures based on the latest research of how Spanish literacy develops.
Co-developed with the Center on Teaching and Learning at the University of Oregon (UO CTL) and validated in partnership with Dr. Lillian Durán, the Lectura assessment was created to provide educators with a high-quality, evidence-based tool to support understanding of Spanish-speaking students’ biliteracy development, specifically foundational Spanish reading skills, which includes measures of phonological awareness, alphabetic understanding and decoding, reading fluency, and reading comprehension.
The measures in Lectura were written from the ground-up to assess students’ literacy development based on how Spanish literacy develops. Measures explicitly account for the syllabic and morphological structures of Spanish, and connected text was written and calibrated with respect to syntactical, lexical, and grammatical rules of Spanish. For example, phonological awareness is measured using syllable segmentation, and letter sounds and syllable reading are included in the decoding subtests for greater face-validity (in lieu of pseudowords). Word choice reflects the multisyllabic word complexity and variety of Spanish, driven by how decoding skills develop in Spanish. As such, Lectura provides instructionally actionable data for all students, including those scoring below the benchmark and those who meet or exceed the benchmark.
The Lectura assessment measures were purposefully designed, developed, field tested, and evaluated to address limitations that educators of Spanish speaking students have experienced in assessments. Specifically in these ways:
- Assessment measures based on current research on how Spanish literacy is developed
- Culturally responsive word choice and content reflecting the regional diversity of Spanish
- Technical adequacy established through rigorous study
- A sample size and geographic diversity reflecting the broad population of Spanish speakers across the U.S.
- Complete parity with English solutions (instructional tools, skill coverage)
Assessment measures by grade
| Lectura measures at each grade level | |||||
|
Measure |
Grade K | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grades 4–6 |
| Fluidez en nombrar letras | |||||
| Fluidez en la segmentación de sílabas | |||||
| ¿Qué queda? | |||||
| Fluidez en los sonidos de letras | |||||
| Fluidez en los sonidos de sílabas | |||||
| Fluidez en las palabras | |||||
| Fluidez en la lectura oral | |||||
| ¿Cuál palabra? | |||||
| Amplify measures at each grade level | |||||
| Oral Language Español | |||||
| Vocabulario | |||||
Assessment measures sample videos
Please note that the videos below are intended for illustrative purposes only. Performance levels in mCLASS Lectura have yet to be finalized.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en nombrar letras (FNL)
Students are asked to identify as many uppercase and lowercase letter names as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en los sonidos de letras (FSL)
Students are asked to identify the sounds of as many uppercase and lowercase letters as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en los sonidos de sílabas (LSS)
Students are presented with a page of printed orthographically regular Spanish syllables and asked to read as many syllables as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: Fluidez en la lectura oral (FLO)
Students are presented with an authentically written informational or narrative passage of Spanish connected text and asked to read as much of the passage as they can in one minute.
mCLASS Lectura measure: ¿Qué Queda? (QQ)
Students are presented with a word orally and then the examiner omits part of the word (i.e., compound word part, syllable, or phoneme). Students are asked to identify what word remains after the word part has been elided.
What makes mCLASS Lectura different?
mCLASS Lectura combines the power of the mCLASS assessment platform and the effectiveness of the Lectura assessment measures. As a result – educators are empowered with latest and greatest assessment tool.
More than a test, mCLASS Lectura is an integrated system that closes the knowing-doing gap by helping teachers take immediate instructional action that’s right for each and every student. What’s more, it addresses the classroom inequities Spanish-speaking students face along their early literacy journeys.
Spanish-speaking students have been underserved and misclassified for decades. With mCLASS Lectura, teachers of Spanish-speaking students finally have access to the same robust assessment tools that have been available to teachers of English-speaking students for years.
Plus! When mCLASS Lectura and DIBELS 8th Edition are used together, teachers are empowered with a more holistic view of their Spanish-speaking students abilities in both English and Spanish, making instructional next steps more targeted and effective.
What makes mCLASS Lectura different?
- It gives teachers access to authentic Spanish measures. Amplify is the only provider of the Lectura assessment. Rather than a direct translation of an English assessment, our solution is the only one to provide teachers a research-based, authentic Spanish assessment that is both valid and reliable.
- It makes it faster and easier to understand where every student is in their early literacy journey. By combining 1:1 observational diagnostic assessments, dyslexia screening, progress monitoring, instant scoring, rigorous reporting, automatic student grouping, and targeted instruction all in one place, it reduces the instructional delays associated with manual scoring, manual data analysis, and manual lesson planning.
- It brings more equity to the classroom. When used in conjunction with mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition, teachers have access to Dual Language Reports that highlight a students strengths and weaknesses in both English and Spanish.
- It makes every instructional minute count. In addition to one-minute measures that quickly gauge student progress toward reading proficiency, it leverages a teacher’s most powerful instructional tool — their own 1:1 observations.
- It drives growth more efficiently. Rather than relying on broad composite scores alone, granular data and in-depth insights for every student help teachers pinpoint exact skill gaps and areas of unfinished learning, making whole-group, small-group, and 1:1 instruction more targeted and effective.
- It saves teachers time. Instant reports, automatic student groups, and ready-to-teach lessons mean teachers spend less time cobbling together materials and more time working directly with students and responding to their needs.
Assessment systems must enable and compel educators to answer not just the “What?” questions, but also the “So What?” and “Now What?” questions. These are the questions that are essential in transforming classroom instruction, and the questions that mCLASS Lectura helps teachers answer with confidence.
How does mCLASS Lectura support screening for dyslexia risk?
mCLASS Lectura subtests have been specifically designed and validated to screen for dyslexia risks.
mCLASS Lectura was specifically developed to ensure the measure is able to meet state-level screening requirements for both dyslexia and universal reading screening. The research and development of Lectura was designed with this use in mind to accurately identify reading difficulties, including difficulties related to risk for dyslexia.
How does mCLASS Lectura support the use of running records?
Track your students’ reading progress from every angle with the Text Reading and Comprehension (TRC) assessment. When TRC is paired with the Lectura assessment, classroom teachers unlock the ability to record reading behaviors through running digital records. Available in English and Spanish, it measures reading comprehension and provides insight into how each student finds meaning in text.

How does mCLASS Lectura turn data into instant action?
mCLASS Lectura gives you instant results and clear next steps for each student.
Quick and actionable reports provide detailed insight into students’ reading development across foundational literacy skills for teachers, specialists, administrators, and caregivers.

Diagnostic assessment
mCLASS Lectura analyzes individual student response data through a proprietary scoring algorithm that pinpoints a student’s specific area(s) of growth and improvement, providing classroom teachers in-depth insight into a students’ instructional needs.
Ready-to-teach instruction
Immediately following the analysis of individual student responses, mCLASS Lectura provides an in-depth diagnostic report complete with suggested next steps, also known as “mCLASS Instruction.”
mCLASS Instruction evaluates each student’s responses on each individual subtest and instantly:
- Provides a list of specific needs by student, such as struggling with medial vowel sounds or difficulty reading words with consonant blends.
- Groups students automatically based on similar discrete skill needs, not simply composite scores like other assessment tools.
- Recommends a variety of ready-to-teach lessons that specifically target each individual student’s areas of need or common areas of need for small-group instruction.
Classroom skill and benchmark summary
The Classroom Skill Summary report is a dashboard showing benchmark performance on each skill. Teachers can use it to determine which skill areas need instructional focus at a classroom level.
The Classroom Benchmark Summary report is a classroom-wide view of overall reading performance. Teachers can use this report to determine if composite scores improved, declined, or remained the same each semester.
Detailed benchmark performance
Teachers can see each student’s performance during the current school year, on each subtest as well as the overall composite. The benchmark goal displays below the subtest name when applicable. The ability to sort the columns in this report gives teachers more flexibility to analyze data the way they prefer.
Dual language reports
When mCLASS Lectura and mCLASS with DIBELS 8th Edition are used together, teachers will receive an asset-based picture of a student’s biliteracy and instructional guidance on how to leverage literacy skills in one language to support literacy skill development in the second language.
- Side-by-side view of foundational literacy skills in English and Spanish
- Explicit guidance to teachers to support asset-based instruction using cross-linguistic transfer strategies

Progress monitoring summary
See which subtests have been assessed since the most recent benchmark assessment, how students performed on the three most recent progress monitoring assessments for each measure, and which students have not been progress monitored since the benchmark assessment.
Caregiver supports
The mCLASS Home Connect letter provides parent and caregivers information in English or Spanish about the student’s literacy and guidance on how to support their child at home.

Clickable demo
Our clickable demo is a great way to orient yourself to the organization of our mCLASS platform and the mCLASS Lectura assessment. Click the button below to get started.

Here you will find 10 interactive screens:
- Screen 2: Scroll down to the class list. Find Gabriel Archulata. Click on his score for “Decodificación”.
- Screen 3: Explore Gabriel’s measure transcript. Then click on the gray arrow to the far right to advance to the next screen.
- Screen 4: Click on the “Instruction” tab.
- Screen 5: Scroll down to “Decoding Group 4” and click “See Activities”.
- Screen 6: Click on the first activity called “Identificar y leer palabras con los dígrafos ch y ll.”
- Screen 7: Click on the gray arrow to the far right to advance to the next screen.
- Screen 8: Explore the detailed “Student” tab and then click the “Dual Language” tab.
- Screen 9: Scroll down to the section about Gabriel’s phonological awareness skills. Click on the link called “Cross-Linguistic Transfer: Phonological Awareness”.
- Screen 10: Click on the gray arrow to the far right to advance to the next screen. Explore the “Home Connect” letter.
The latest edition of Amplify ELA receives highest rating from EdReports for grades six through eight
Brooklyn, NY— (June 4, 2020) Amplify ELA’s second edition for middle school received an all-green rating and perfect scores from EdReports for grades six through eight. Green ratings represent EdReports’ highest ranking, indicating that the curriculum meets expectations for every gateway of their rigorous, educator-led reviews for quality curriculum programs.
Amplify ELA is a standards-aligned, blended language arts curriculum that places text at the center of every lesson. The second edition features rich, updated content and captivating illustrations that reflect the diversity of the students that use the program every day.
Amplify ELA’s new edition was crafted to respond to the distinct challenges and opportunities faced by middle school students and their teachers. This blended program supports digital, print, and hybrid classrooms. It also features Amplify’s Embedded Assessment Measure (EAM), which is a game-changer for teachers. With EAM, assessment moments are woven into the instructional sequence and embedded in student activities and assignments. Students don’t feel they are being assessed, but teachers get powerful data on their progress to support stronger whole-class instruction and effective personalized support.
“We are delighted to see this all-green rating,” said Alexandra Clarke, senior vice president of product and general manager for ELA curriculum at Amplify, “At a time when student engagement is more crucial than ever, Amplify ELA is designed to support teachers in connecting with middle school students across ever-changing instructional scenarios. With resources they can trust and fully integrated insights, data, and guidance, educators can spend their time bringing great texts to life. We’re thrilled to see that reality recognized by EdReports.”
Amplify ELA enables educators to establish classroom environments where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, while developing the essential skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
About Amplify
A pioneer in K–12 education since 2000, Amplify is leading the way in next-generation curriculum and assessment. Our captivating core and supplemental programs in ELA, math, and science engage all students in rigorous learning and inspire them to think deeply, creatively, and for themselves. Our formative assessment products turn data into practical instructional support to help all students build a strong foundation in early reading and math. All of our programs provide teachers with powerful tools that help them understand and respond to the needs of every student. Today, Amplify serves more than five million students in all 50 states. For more information, visit amplify.com.
Contact: media@amplify.com
Welcome, K–5 Atlanta Public Schools!
Amplify Desmos Math lab classes
Hello math rock star!
Be one of the first to get your hands on our latest and most exciting new ideas for Amplify Desmos Math K–5 by joining our spring lab classes.
Spring lab classes are perfect for educators who:
- Love math
- Are interested in innovative new ways of teaching and learning, using print or digital tools for instruction
- Are excited about the opportunity to share feedback on early prototypes so you can have an impact on math education
- Have flexibility in their instructional calendar to try new things with their students this April, May and June
Sign up for our spring lab classes.

Flexible, social problem-solving experiences both online and off
Amplify Desmos Math makes productive discourse easier to facilitate and more accessible for students. The program provides teachers with easy-to-follow instructional supports that makes the program more effective and enjoyable for both you and your students.


Signs you might be an amazing lab class teacher:
- You love math.
- You know young people are capable of just about anything.
- You understand that giving candid feedback can help the next generation of students redefine what amazing looks like.
- We are looking for a diverse set of classrooms and districts, with a variety of technology used (remote, hybrid, 1:1, blended—you name it!) and demographics (urban, suburban, rural).
Lab class teachers will receive:
- Teacher and student prototype materials
- Training with an Amplify Desmos Math expert
- Compensation for your time


Amplify will collect feedback in a number of ways:
- Quick surveys
- Virtual interviews
Amplify may ask to visit your classroom if possible.
Want to learn more about how you could get involved with lab classes spring 2023? Sign up here.
A closer look at grades 3–5
Amplify Science is based on the latest research on teaching and learning and helps teachers deliver age-appropriate, high-quality, literacy-rich instruction that enables students to take on the roles of scientists and engineers to solve real-world phenomena every day.
In the 3–5 classroom, this looks like students:
- Collecting evidence from a variety of sources.
- Making sense of evidence in a variety of ways.
- Formulating convincing scientific arguments.


Program structure
Our cyclical lesson design ensures students receive multiple exposures to concepts through a variety of modalities. As they progress through the lessons within a unit, students build and deepen their understanding, increasing their ability to develop and refine complex explanations of the unit’s phenomenon.
It’s this proven program structure and lesson design that enables Amplify Science California to teach less, but achieve more. Rather than asking teachers to wade through unnecessary content, we designed our 3–5 program to address 100% of the California NGSS in just 88 days.
Scope and sequence
Every year of our grades 3–5 sequence consists of 4 units and 88 lessons. Said another way, each unit contains 20 lessons plus two dedicated assessment days (a Pre-Unit Assessment and End-of-Unit Assessment).
Lessons for grades 3–5 are written to last a minimum of 60 minutes, though teachers can expand or contract the timing to meet their needs.

Unit types
Each unit delivers three-dimensional learning experiences and engages students in gathering evidence from a rich collection of sources, while also emphasizing a particular science and engineering practice.
In grades 3–5:
- One unit emphasizes the practice of investigation.
- One unit emphasizes the practice of modeling.
- One unit emphasizes the practice of engineering design.
- One unit emphasizes the practice of argumentation.
Investigation Units
Investigation units focus on the process of strategically developing investigations and gathering data to answer questions. Students are first asked to consider questions about what happens in the natural world and why, and are then involved in designing and conducting investigations that produce data to help answer those questions.
Modeling Units
Modeling units provide extra support to students engaging in the practice of modeling. Students use physical models, investigate with computer models, and create their own diagrams to help them visualize what might be happening on the nanoscale.
Engineering Design Units
Engineering design units provide opportunities for students to solve complex problems by applying science principles to the design of functional solutions, and iteratively testing those solutions to determine how well they meet preset criteria.
Argumentation units
Argumentation units provide students with regular opportunities to explore and discuss available evidence, time and support to consider how evidence may be leveraged in support of claims, and independence that increases as they mount written arguments in support of their claims.
Units at a glance

Balancing Forces
Domain: Physical Science
Unit type: Modeling
Student role: Engineers
Phenomenon: The town of Faraday is getting a new train that floats above its tracks.

Inheritance and Traits
Domain: Life Science
Unit type: Investigation
Student role: Wildlife biologists
Phenomenon: An adopted wolf in Graystone National Park (“Wolf 44”) has some traits that appear similar to one wolf pack in the park and other traits that appear to be similar to a different wolf pack.

Environments and Survival
Domains: Life Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Engineering design
Student role: Biomimicry engineers
Phenomenon: Over the last 10 years, a population of grove snails has changed: The number of grove snails with yellow shells has decreased, while the number of snails with banded shells has increased.

Weather and Climate
Domains: Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Argumentation
Student role: Meteorologists
Phenomenon: Three different islands, each a contender for becoming an Orangutan reserve, experience different weather patterns.

Energy Conversions
Domains: Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Engineering design
Student role: System engineers
Phenomenon: The fictional town of Ergstown experiences frequent blackouts.

Vision and Light
Domain: Physical Science, Life Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Investigation
Student role: Conservation biologists
Phenomenon: The population of Tokay geckos in a rain forest in the Philippines has decreased since the installation of new highway lights.

Earth’s Features
Domain: Earth and Space Science
Unit type: Argumentation
Student role: Geologists
Phenomenon: A mysterious fossil is discovered in a canyon within the fictional Desert Rocks National Park.

Waves, Energy, and Information
Domains: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Modeling
Student role: Marine scientists
Phenomenon: Mother dolphins in the fictional Blue Bay National Park seem to be communicating with their calves when they are separated at a distance underwater.

Patterns of Earth and Sky
Domains: Physical Science, Earth and Space Science
Unit type: Investigation
Student role: Astronomers
Phenomenon: An ancient artifact depicts what we see in the sky at different times — the sun during the daytime and different stars during the nighttime — but it is missing a piece.

Modeling Matter
Domain: Physical Science
Unit type: Modeling
Student role: Food scientists
Phenomenon: Chromatography is a process for separating mixtures. Some solids dissolve in a salad dressing while others do not. Oil and vinegar appear to separate when mixed in a salad dressing.

The Earth System
Domains: Earth and Space Science, Physical Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Engineering Design
Student role: Water resource engineers
Phenomenon: East Ferris, a city on one side of the fictional Ferris Island, is experiencing a water shortage, while West Ferris is not.

Ecosystem Restoration
Domains:Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Argumentation
Student role: Ecologists
Phenomenon: The jaguars, sloths, and cecropia trees in a reforested section of a Costa Rican rain forest are not growing and thriving.
Resources
Latest school assessment data show continued academic recovery in early literacy, with Black and Hispanic students making the greatest gains
BROOKLYN, NY (February 27, 2023) — Today, Amplify, a publisher of next-generation curriculum and assessment programs, published a research brief on national middle-of-school-year (MOY) reading data. The data show that students across the country continue to make meaningful progress in early literacy. These successes are especially evident in the lower elementary grades. Further, the measurable disparities in achievement between Black and Hispanic students and their white and Asian peers have narrowed since the prior year. Despite this progress, in every elementary grade, the students at the greatest risk for not learning to read are performing worse than they were in the middle of the 2019–2020 school year. In particular, third graders, the cohort of students with the most impacted instructional time from the pandemic, experienced no improvement from the prior school year, signaling the importance of uninterrupted instructional time that is based in the Science of Reading.
“Literacy is a fundamental human right, and evidence-based literacy instruction is an imperative for lifelong success,” says Susan Lambert, chief academic officer of elementary humanities at Amplify. “Our nation’s students have experienced unprecedented learning disruptions over the last three years. The way forward is clear — evidence-based practices, like the Science of Reading, must guide our nation’s literacy recovery to help all of our children become confident readers.”
Despite recent progress, literacy rates in the United States remain a crisis today. There are still too many students at risk of failing to read proficiently by the end of the third grade, an important indicator of future academic success. Educators serving students in grades K–3 need continued support to help students that are most at risk. Schools and districts can invest in a reliable universal screener, high-quality core curriculum based in the Science of Reading, evidence-based interventions and ongoing professional development to ensure educators have the tools they need to support students.
The research brief compares mCLASS® with DIBELS® (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) 8th Edition benchmark data from the 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22 and 2022–23 school years. From more than 2 million students assessed with mCLASS, approximately 300,000 students in a matched set of 1,400 schools in 43 states are represented. The schools in the source data are slightly more likely to be in large urban metropolitan areas than the nation overall.
The data was collected using the mCLASS platform, which automates the data collection of DIBELS®. DIBELS is a widely-used series of short tests developed by the University of Oregon that assess K–8 literacy. It is an observational assessment collected by teachers interacting with students one-on-one, either live or over video. DIBELS is typically administered three times a year (beginning, middle and end of year), and it is used to identify reading difficulty, monitor progress and inform instruction, especially for struggling readers.
About Amplify
A pioneer in K–12 education since 2000, Amplify is leading the way in next-generation curriculum and assessment. Our core and supplemental programs in ELA, math and science engage all students in rigorous learning and inspire them to think deeply, creatively, and for themselves. Our formative assessment products help teachers identify the targeted instruction students need to build a strong foundation in early reading and math. All of our programs and services provide educators with powerful tools that help them understand and respond to the needs of every student. Today, Amplify serves more than 15 million students in all 50 states and on six continents. For more information, visit amplify.com.
Media Contact
Kristine Frech
media@amplify.com
How we build our high-quality programs
At Amplify, we support teachers in delivering inspiring, impactful lessons that celebrate and develop the thinking of all their students. We build our high-quality programs by partnering with editorial and accessibility experts.

Editorial
Amplify has a dedicated Editorial Team that partners with product teams, subject matter experts, and an internal advisory Editorial Board to ensure that our products meet Amplify’s high standards for quality and embody our purpose and commitment. Through multiple rounds of product review, the Editorial Team coordinates input from internal and external experts and advisors to ensure that Amplify’s materials are engaging, rigorous, and accurate. The Editorial Team also makes certain that all materials are age-appropriate for students and align with current or pending state, district, and other policies.
Our approach to accessibility
Amplify creates products that serve the needs of all learners, including those with disabilities. We refine our practices regularly and incorporate feedback from our users and accessibility experts.
Amplify works with third-party experts in digital accessibility to help ensure that we build and maintain our products in accordance with the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and other relevant legal requirements. How we do it:
- Integrated accessibility practices: We embed accessibility considerations into our product development lifecycles. We also implement training and vendor management programs that support compliance with applicable standards, guidelines, and best practices.
- Structured, accessible content: We create well-structured, easily navigable content that meets diverse user needs, including clear, readable text, properly labeled multimedia, and logical organization of information.
- Development and testing for accessibility: We work with third-party experts to conduct assessments against accessibility standards and develop remediation plans if deficiencies are identified. Our internal quality assurance protocols include scenarios that test functionality for users with disabilities.
- Comprehensive training and support: We provide continuous training and resources for team members involved in developing our products to help them understand and implement accessibility requirements. This includes training on the latest WCAG guidelines and updates on industry and legal standards.
- Inclusive design patterns: We prioritize accessible design patterns to create interfaces that are intuitive for users.
- Student-facing print components: All student-facing print components are available in the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) database, and all student-facing PDFs in Amplify curriculum are formatted to be compatible with screen readers.
To provide feedback about the accessibility of Amplify’s products or this website, or to discuss accommodations to help you use our products or this website, please contact the customer care and support team or +1 (800) 823-1969 (hours: 7 a.m.–7 p.m. ET).
Learn more about the impact of our programs.
Amplify’s high-quality programs benefit millions of students every day using methods that are evidence-based, ESSA-aligned, and showing efficacy in a variety of contexts. Read more about our programs in the following case study and report.
Case study: Making an impact with Aldine ISD
Aldine Independent School District serves 62,000 students in Texas. Forty-two percent are English language learners, and more than 90 percent are economically disadvantaged. After two years of using Amplify’s early literacy suite, the number of Aldine ISD elementary students reading at or above grade level rose from 30 percent to 50 percent.


Report: Advancing Spanish literacy with Boost Lectura
Boost Lectura is proven to support Spanish literacy skills critical for reading development. Students who used Boost Lectura for 30–45 minutes a week outperformed their peers on universal screening assessments of Spanish literacy across grades K–2—and were more likely to meet or exceed benchmarks by the middle of the school year.
Amplify Desmos Math California
Welcome, K–8 Reviewers!
We’re honored to introduce you to Amplify Desmos Math California. We’re confident you’ll find this comprehensive program to be a powerful tool for bringing the vision of the California Math Framework to life in classrooms across the state.
Please start with the video on the right to learn how to navigate the program and access key features referenced within our submission. Below you’ll find additional resources to support your review.
Your Review Samples
As a curriculum that incorporates both print and digital resources, it’s important that you explore both our physical materials (delivered to you in grade-specific tubs) and our digital materials (accessible through our platform). We invite you to explore both types of resources using the instructions and tips below.
Print Samples
Your print samples should have arrived in grade-specific tubs with a copy of two Reviewer binders. The K-5 Reviewer binder is contained within the Grade K shipping box and the Grade 6-8 Reviewer binder can be located in the Grade 6 shipping box. As you begin the process of organizing your materials, please refer to the inventory checklist found inside each tub as well as within your Reviewer Binder.
Digital Samples
In order to access your digital samples, you’ll need to log into our platform using your unique login credentials found on a Digital Access Flyer inside of your Reviewer Binder. Once you have located the flyer:
- Click the orange button below to access the platform.
- Click “Log in with Amplify.”
- Enter the username and password provided on your Digital Access Flyer.
Navigation Tips
Below you will find helpful tips for navigating Amplify Desmos Math California. We recommend reading these pages alongside the program’s print materials and digital experience to gain a deeper understanding of the program.
Click the links below to read about navigating program features including:
- Navigating the print program (Grades K–1)
- Navigating the print program (Grades 2–5)
- Navigating the print program (Grades 6–8)
- Navigating the digital program
Built for California
The Amplify Desmos Math California program is designed around the vision articulated in the California Mathematics Framework to enable all California students to become powerful users of mathematics. Our program incorporates the latest research in student learning, meaning that we:
- Focus on the Big Ideas: Amplify Desmos Math California’s courses, units, and lessons are centered around the Big Ideas. Big Ideas, like standards, are not considered in isolation. In addition to each unit and lesson’s focal Big Ideas, Amplify Desmos Math California also provides connections among the Big Ideas across units and lessons.
- Center on open and engaging tasks: Amplify Desmos Math California is grounded in engaging tasks meant to address students’ often-asked question: “Why am I learning this?” Students are invited into learning with low-floor, high-ceiling tasks that provide an entry point for all. Open tasks in Amplify Desmos Math California provide the space for students to try on multiple strategies and represent their thinking in different ways, and allow student explanation and discussion to serve as the center of the classroom. All lessons offer both print and digital representations of lessons.
- Provide enhanced digital experiences: Amplify Desmos Math California includes digitally-enhanced lesson activities, incorporating interactive digital tools alongside print materials. These purposefully-placed resources allow students to visualize mathematical concepts, receive actionable feedback while practicing, encounter personalized learning support from an onscreen tutor, and engage in discussions about their thinking and approaches.
- Treat core instruction and differentiation as integral partners: The Amplify Desmos Math California curriculum provides teachers with lessons, strategies, and resources to eliminate barriers and increase access to grade-level content without reducing the mathematical demand of tasks. Every activity has multiple entry points to ensure that all students are supported and challenged. Intervention and personalized learning activities are directly connected to lesson content and offer students the individualized support as they dive into the mathematics.
Category 1: Mathematics Content/Alignment with the Standards
Standards Maps
The links below provide the Standards Maps for Amplify Desmos Math California for each grade level.
Evaluation Criteria Map
Linked here is the Evaluation Criteria Map for grades K–8. Please note that you will need to be logged into the digital platform to access the links in the Evaluation Criteria Map.
Standards for Mathematical Practice
The links below provide the alignment of Amplify Desmos Math California to the Standards for Mathematical Practice at each grade level.
Drivers of Investigation and Content Connections
Amplify Desmos Math California incorporates the Drivers of Investigation (DIs) and Content Connection (CCs) throughout the program. Throughout the year, students engage with open and authentic tasks of varying durations — from lesson activities to unit-level Explore lessons and longer course-level Investigations. Every lesson and investigation opportunity is grounded around the why, how, and what of the learning experience, and helps teachers bring mathematical concepts to life.

California English Language Development Standards
The links below provide the alignment of Amplify Desmos Math California to the California English Language Development Standards at each grade level.
California Environmental Principles and Concepts
Select lessons, performance tasks, and investigations across grade levels in Amplify Desmos Math California are aligned to one or more of the California Environmental Principles and Concepts. Click the links below to view how the California Environmental Principles and Concepts are represented in each grade level.
Category 2: Program Organization
Amplify Desmos Math California thoughtfully combines conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and application. Each lesson is designed to tell a story by posing problems that invite a variety of approaches before guiding students to synthesize their understanding of the learning goals.
Big Ideas
Amplify Desmos Math California’s courses, units, and lessons are centered around the Big Ideas. In addition to each unit and lesson’s focal Big Ideas, Amplify Desmos Math California also provides connections among the Big Ideas across units and lessons. Please refer to Keeping the Big Ideas at the Center (linked below) for specific lesson designs and alignment with the Big Ideas for each grade level.
Program Structure
Amplify Desmos Math California combines the best of problem-based lessons, intervention, personalized practice, and assessments into a coherent and engaging experience for both students and teachers.

Lessons and units in Amplify Desmos Math California are designed around a Proficiency Progression, a model that steps out problem-based learning by systematically building students’ curiosity into lasting grade-level understanding.

In the Proficiency Progression, lessons begin by activating students’ natural curiosity and offering opportunities to generate new ideas through collaboration. Teachers are then able to refine ideas through intentional facilitation and guide students to grade-level understanding, while students retain the ability to use different strategies and methods to show their comprehension of the content. Students are provided ample opportunities to develop lasting understanding.
Scope and Sequence
Below you can view the scope and sequence for each grade level.











Lesson Design and Structure

Amplify Desmos Math California is designed with a structured approach to problem-based learning that systematically builds on students’ curiosity and allows students to grapple with the Big Ideas of the California Framework. Every lesson activity is organized into a Launch, Monitor, Connect format.
- Launch: The launch is a short, whole-class conversation that creates a need or excitement, provides clarity, or helps students connect their prior knowledge or personal experience, which ensures that everyone has access to the upcoming work.
- Monitor: As students work individually, in pairs, or in groups, teachers explore student thinking, ask questions, and provide support to help move the conversations closer to the intended math learning goal.
- Connect: Teachers connect students’ ideas to the key learning goals of the lesson, facilitating class discussions that help synthesize and solidify the Big Ideas.
Each lesson within Amplify Desmos Math California follows the same structure.
- Warm-Up: Every Amplify Desmos Math California lesson begins with a whole class Warm-Up. Warm-Ups are an invitational Instructional Routine intended to provide a social moment at the start of the lesson in which every student has an opportunity to contribute. Warm-Ups may build fluency or highlight a strategy that may be helpful in the current lesson or act as an invitation into the math of the lesson.
- Lesson Activities: Each lesson includes one or two activities. These activities are the heart of each lesson. Students notice, wonder, explore, calculate, predict, measure, explain their thinking, use math to settle disputes, create challenges for their classmates, and more. Guidance is provided to help teachers launch, monitor, and connect student thinking over the course of the activity.
- Synthesis and Show What You Know: The Synthesis is an opportunity for the teacher and students to pull all the learning of the lesson together into a lesson takeaway. Students engage in a facilitated discussion to consolidate and refine their ideas about the learning goals, and the teacher synthesizes students’ learning. Show What You Know is a daily assessment opportunity for students to show what they know about the learning goals and what they are still learning.
- Centers (K–5): Centers are hands-on activities for students in grades K–5 to play collaboratively to strengthen their understanding of key skills and concepts. In grades K–1, students have Daily Center Time built into every lesson.
- Practice and Differentiation: Daily practice problems for the day’s lesson are included both online and in the print Student Edition, including fluency, test practice, and spiral review.
Kindergarten–Grade 1

Grades 2–5

Grades 6–8

Routines
Amplify Desmos Math California features a variety of lesson routines. Instructional routines and Math Language Routines (MLRs) are used within lessons to highlight student-developed language and ideas, cultivate conversation, support mathematical sense-making, and promote meta-cognition. Both are called out at point-of-use within the Teacher Edition and Teacher Presentation Screens. Below are the types of routines used throughout the Amplify Desmos Math California curriculum:
Math Language Routines
- MLR1: Stronger and Clearer Each Time
- MLR2: Collect and Display
- MLR3: Critique, Correct, Clarify
- MLR5: Co-Craft Questions
- MLR6: Three Reads
- MLR7: Compare and Connect
- MLR 8: Discussion Supports
Instructional Routines
- Decide and Defend
- Notice and Wonder
- Number Talk
- Tell a Story
- Think-Pair-Share
- Which One Doesn’t Belong?
Category 3: Assessments
A variety of performance data in Amplify Desmos Math California provides evidence of student learning, while helping students bolster their skills and understanding.
Unit-Level Assessment
Amplify Desmos Math California has embedded unit assessments that offer key insights into students’ conceptual understanding of math. These assessments provide regular, actionable information about how students are thinking about and processing math, with both auto-scoring and in-depth rubrics that help teachers anticipate and respond to students’ learning needs.
- Pre-Unit Check: Each unit in grades 2–8 begins with a formative assessment designed to identify the student skills that will be particularly relevant to the upcoming unit. This check is agnostic to the standards covered in the following unit and serves not as a deficit-based acknowledgment of what students do not know, but rather as an affirmation of the knowledge and skills with which students come in.
- End-of-Unit Assessment: Students engage with rigorous grade-level mathematics through a variety of formats and tasks in the summative End-of-Unit Assessment. A combination of auto-scored (when completed digitally) and rubric-scored items provides deep insights into student thinking. All Amplify Desmos Math California End-of-Unit Assessments include two forms.
- Sub-Unit Quizzes: Sub-Unit Quizzes are formative assessments embedded regularly in Grades Kindergarten through Algebra 1. In these checks, students are assessed on a subset of conceptual understandings from the unit, with rubrics that help illuminate students’ current understanding and provide guidance for responding to student thinking.
- Sub-Unit Checklists: These checklists enable teachers to observe key skills and concepts that cannot be assessed on a pencil-and-paper assessment in Kindergarten–Grade 1. The checklists outline the supports students need to achieve mathematical growth and success.
- Performance Tasks: At the end of each unit in grades 3–8, there is a summative assessment performance task provided to evaluate students’ proficiency with the concepts and skills addressed in the unit.
Lesson-Level Assessments
Amplify Desmos Math California lessons include daily moments of assessment to provide valuable evidence of learning for both the teacher and student. Beyond formative, summative, and benchmark assessments, students also have opportunities for self-reflection with Watch Your Knowledge Grow. Students take ownership of their learning by reflecting and tracking their progress before and after each unit.
- Show What You Know: Each lesson has a daily formative assessment focused on one of the key concepts in the lesson. Show What You Know moments are carefully designed to minimize completion time for students while maximizing daily teacher insights to attend to student needs during the following class.
- Responsive Feedback™: Teachers have the ability to see and provide in-the-moment feedback as students progress through a digital lesson. Responsive Feedback motivates students and engages them in the learning process.
Diagnostic Assessment
Every grade level features an asset-based diagnostic assessment designed to be administered at the beginning of the year. Delivered digitally and to the whole class, our diagnostic assessment is uniquely designed to reveal underlying math thinking and identify what students know about grade-level math. With data beyond just right and wrong, teachers have the type of deeper level of insights need to take the right next step.
CAASPP-Aligned Assessment Preparation
Amplify Desmos Math is designed to support students’ mathematical development through problem-based learning, differentiation, and embedded assessments. The program’s emphasis on conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and application aligns with the mathematical practices and content standards assessed by the CAASPP.
Amplify Desmos Math California includes a CAASPP-aligned Item Bank. This standards-aligned bank of questions allows teachers to filter and search by grade and standard to find items. Once assigned on the digital platform, students will experience CAASPP-like practice with the online digital tools.
Data and Reporting
Amplify Desmos Math California provides teachers and administrators with unified reporting and insights so that educators have visibility into what students know about grade-level math—and can plan instruction accordingly for the whole class, small groups, and individual students. Reporting functionality integrates unit assessments, lesson assessments, diagnostic data, and progress monitoring for a comprehensive look at student learning. Program reports show proficiency and growth by domain, cluster, standard, and priority concept using performance data from unit assessments, then highlight areas of potential student need to allow teachers to modify their instruction and target differentiated support.
Administrator reporting provides a complete picture of student, class, and district performance, allowing administrators to implement instructional and intervention plans.
Category 4: Access and Equity
The Amplify Desmos Math California curriculum provides teachers with lessons, strategies, and resources to eliminate barriers and increase access to grade-level content without reducing the mathematical demand of tasks. Our lessons are developed using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to proactively ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities.
Every activity has multiple entry points to ensure that all students are supported and challenged. Intervention and personalized learning activities are directly connected to the day’s content and offer students the individualized supports they need to be successful.
Each lesson and unit contains guidance for teachers on how to identify students who may need support, students who need to keep strengthening their understanding, and students who may be ready to stretch their learning. In addition, teachers are provided with recommendations for resources to use with each group of students.
Universal Design for Learning
Each lesson in the program incorporates opportunities for engagement, representation, action, and expression based on the guidelines of Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
- Multiple Means of Engagement: Students engage in both print and digital learning, and are regularly participating in discussions and hands-on activities. Students are invited to build their own challenge for other students to solve, which provides opportunities for choice and
autonomy, as well as joy and play. - Multiple Means of Representation: Students are encouraged to demonstrate their learning using mathematical representations, both print and digital, and regularly engage with their peers in analyzing multiple possible solutions. Classes engage in open-ended discussions about what individual students notice and wonder about mathematical concepts.
- Multiple Means of Action and Expression: Learners differ in how they navigate learning environments and express what they know. Students can communicate their ideas in multiple ways, including in print, sketching, uploading photos, or recording an audio response.
Accessibility
Lesson facilitation supports
Every lesson includes at least one specific suggestion the teacher can use to increase access to the lesson without reducing the mathematical demand of the tasks. These suggestions address the following areas:
- Visual-spatial processing
- Conceptual processing
- Executive functioning
- Memory and attention
- Fine motor skills
Accessibility tools
Students have the ability to control accessibility tools so that each learning experience is customized to their individual needs. In many instances, these tools can be turned on or off at any point of instruction.
- Text to speech: Reads text instructions to students in multiple languages
- Enlarged font: Increases the size of all text on screen
- Braille mode: Includes narration of digital interactions
- Language selection: Toggles between languages
Differentiation: In-Lesson Teacher Moves
Within every lesson activity, teachers can use the suggestions in the Differentiation Teacher Moves table to provide in-the-moment instructional support while students are engaged in the work of the lesson. This table can help teachers anticipate the ways students may approach the activity, and provides prompts that they can use during the lesson to Support, Strengthen, and Stretch individual students in their thinking. Teachers are provided with clear student actions and understanding to look for, each matched with immediately usable suggestions for how to respond to the student thinking illustrated in each row of the table. In addition to using these suggestions in the moment as teachers monitor student work, teachers can review the Differentiation table in advance to help them anticipate how students are likely to approach the activity.

Differentiation: Beyond the Lesson
Teachers are provided with recommendations for resources to use with each group of students needing support, strengthening, and stretching after each lesson. Support, Strengthen, and Stretch resources include:
- Mini-Lessons: 15-minute, small-group direct instruction lessons targeted to a specific concept or skill
- Item Banks: Space for teachers to create practice and assessments by using filters and searching for standards, summative-style items, and more
- Fluency Practice: Adaptive, personalized practice built out for basic operations and more
- Centers (K–5): Lesson-embedded routines and practice for students that are vertically aligned across grade levels
- Extensions: Lesson-embedded Teacher Moves including possible stretch questions and activities for students
- Lesson Practice: Additional practice problems support every lesson
- Math Adventures: Strategy-based math games where students engage with math concepts and practice skills in a fun digital environment
- Lesson Summary Support: Support for students and caregivers that provides efficient explanation of the learning goal with clear examples
Math Identity and Community
The Math Identity and Community feature supports teachers in helping students build confidence in their own mathematical thinking, develop skills to work with and learn from others when doing math, and learn how math is an interwoven part of their broader community. The embedded prompts throughout the lessons are designed to highlight what it means to be good at math, the value of sharing ideas, and the power of flexible and creating thinking. Here are some examples of the Math Identity and Community supports embedded in each lesson:
- I can be all of me in math class. You will work with partners every day in math class. What do you want your partners to know about you?
- We are a math community. What does good listening look like and sound like in a math community?
- I am a doer of math. What math strengths did you use today?
Unit Stories
Every unit in grades K–5 contains a Unit Story. These Unit Stories are brief fiction stories read aloud by the teacher at the beginning of each unit that connect to the math of the unit and introduce characters that students will get to know as they engage in the unit. Teachers read the story aloud from their Teacher Edition while projecting illustrations for students from the story, found in the Teacher Presentation Screens for the story. Across the unit, the Unit Story context and characters are used at appropriate points to inspire and engage students in the math as well as in reflections about their math identity and community.
Math Language Development
Every lesson in Amplify Desmos Math California includes opportunities for all students to develop mathematical language as they experience the content. Amplify Desmos Math California purposefully progresses language development from lesson to lesson and across units by supporting students in making their arguments and explanations stronger, clearer, and more precise. This systematic approach to the development of math language can be broken down into the following four categories of support:
- Vocabulary: Units and lessons start by surfacing students’ language for new concepts, then building connections between their language and the new vocabulary for that unit. This honors the language assets that students bring into their learning.
- Language goals: Language goals attend to the mathematics students are learning, and are written through the lens of one or more of four language modalities: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
- Math Language Routines: Math Language Routines are used within lessons to highlight student-developed language and ideas, cultivate conversation, support mathematical sense-making, and promote meta-cognition.
- Multilingual/English learner supports: Supports for multilingual/English learners (ML/ELs) are called out at intentional points within each lesson. These specific, targeted suggestions support ML/ELs with modifications that increase access to a task, or through development of contextual or mathematical language (both of which can be supportive of all learners).
Multilingual and English Learner Supports
Partnership with English Learner Success Forum
Amplify partnered with the English Learner Success Forum (ELSF), a national nonprofit organization that advocates for high-quality instructional materials that are inclusive of multilingual learners. ELSF reviewed Amplify Desmos Math California, and provided directional guidance and feedback to ensure that the program reflects their research-based instructional strategies for multilingual/English learners.
Math Language Development Resources
Our Math Language Development Resources book contains lesson-specific strategies and activities for all levels of English Learners (i.e., Emerging, Expanding, Bridging). With support for every lesson, teachers are empowered to help all students, regardless of their language skills, to participate fully, grasp the material, and excel in their mathematical journey.
Multilingual Glossary
Amplify Desmos Math California includes a digital glossary for languages other than Spanish. Translations will be provided for up to nine languages.
Spanish Version
Amplify Desmos Math California will include Spanish student-facing materials beginning in the 2026–27 school year.
Category 5: Instructional Planning and Support
Amplify Desmos Math California includes a variety of embedded instructional supports to empower teachers to lead effectively and gain actionable insights into student growth and progress. Teachers are equipped with a comprehensive set of resources designed to fulfill the requirements of Category 5.
Grade-level concepts
Within the Teacher Edition front matter:
- Scope and sequence
- Big Ideas, Drivers of Investigation, and Content Connections
- Grade level standards
- Standards for Mathematical Practice
- English Language Development Standards
- Environmental Principals and Concepts
Within each Unit and Sub-Unit Overview:
- Big Ideas, Drivers of Investigation, and Content Connections
- Math that Matters Most
- Grade level standards
- Standards for Mathematical Practice
- English Language Development Standards
- Environmental Principals and Concepts
Within each Lesson:
- Big Ideas, Drivers of Investigation, and Content Connections
- Grade level standards
- Standards for Mathematical Practice
- English Language Development Standards
- Environmental Principals and Concepts
How to implement the program
At the course level (within the Teacher Edition front matter):
- Navigating the Program (both print and digital)
- Facilitating Lesson Activities with Launch, Monitor and Connect
- Overview of the Digital Facilitation Tools
At the lesson level:
- Suggestions for timing
- What materials to prep
- How to organize and group students
- Key lesson takeaways with the Synthesis
- Recommendations for Differentiation
- Strategies for intervention and extensions (in the Intervention, Extensions, and Investigation Resources book)
At the activity level:
- Differentiation recommendations
- Accessibility tips
- ML / EL tips
- Teacher look-fors
- Recommended Teacher Moves
- Prompts for guiding student thinking
- Sample student responses
Development of Math Language
A variety of language development supports are provided within the Student and Teacher Editions and Math Language Development Resources book.
At the lesson level:
- Diagrams and visuals
- Sentence frames and word banks
- Graphic organizers, including Frayer models
- Vocabulary routines
- Embedded language supports aligned to the CA ELDs
- Lesson-specific strategies for Emerging, Expanding, and Bridging
At the unit level:
- Words With Multiple Meanings
- Contextual vocabulary
At the course level:
- English/Spanish cognates
- Multilingual Glossary
Other Curriculum Guidance
- Additional Practice Resources book
- Assessment Resources book
- Assess and Respond guidance paired with each assessment opportunity
- Show-What-You-Know activities
- Answer keys and rubrics
- Performance tasks
What is Boost Reading?
Boost Reading is a K–5 student-driven literacy program that provides both enrichment and remediation for all students, leveraging the power of compelling storytelling to engage students in personalized reading instruction and practice.
It features:
- High quality, research-based instruction based on the Science of Reading.
- Unparalleled personalized learning pathways.
- Compelling and imaginative storylines.
- Growth mindset.
- Insightful reports tied to actionable next steps.

How does Boost Reading work?
Boost Reading uses students’ latest reading assessment data to ensure they practice the right skills at the right time. In cases where no student assessment data is available, our embedded placement tool ensures students receive the content and skill practice most appropriate for their current reading level.
From there, students move through our curriculum along their own learning pathway where they encounter personalized content tailored to their evolving skill and grade levels.
Summary of games

With over 40 adaptive games, Boost Reading helps students of all levels grow across 13 critical skills areas, including explicit instruction in comprehension processes.
- Phonological awareness
- Letter sound correspondence
- Letter combinations
- Early decoding
- Advanced decoding
- Comprehension processes
- Key ideas and details
- Craft and structure
- Integration of knowledge and ideas
- Vocabulary
- Connected texts
- Fluency
- Close reading
See pages 16-78 of this guide for a detailed explanation of every game in the program.
What makes Boost Reading different?
Multiple dimensions
Boost Reading features full adaptivity. That means students progress along a pathway that adapts on multiple dimensions, not just one. For example, a student can work on early first-grade decoding in one game while building more advanced vocabulary knowledge in another.
Always-positive feedback
Boost Reading supports positive participation by giving students immediate and clear feedback. These results are never punitive. Instead our always-positive feedback is delivered in the context of the game world and is designed to motivate students to keep trying.
Ready-to-teach mini-lessons
Boost Reading turns data into action with reports that help educators know exactly who needs support and ready-to-teach mini-lessons that deliver targeted reinforcement and remediation.
Accelerated growth
Boost Reading accelerates student growth at all reading levels and reduces the number of students at risk of reading difficulty. In one study of 3rd graders in a large urban district who used Boost Reading for only one semester:
- 54% of students who used Boost Reading made above average progress, whereas only 44% of students in the comparison group made above average progress.
- 54% of English learners in that same study made above average growth, whereas only 45% of English learners in the comparison group made above average growth.
Check out the above results and more in this efficacy paper.
How does Boost Reading integrate with the other parts of the literacy system?
Boost Reading + mCLASS® with DIBELS® 8th Edition
mCLASS automatically places students on an adaptive path within Boost Reading, which provides them the exact practice–both remediation and acceleration–that they need.
Click here to learn more about how Boost Reading and the mCLASS Assessment System work together.
Boost Reading + Amplify CKLA
Boost Reading extends core instruction with Amplify CKLA with personalized practice that follows the same scope and sequence.
Click here to learn more about how Boost Reading and Amplify CKLA work together.
Sample materials and demo access
Explore as a teacher
Ready to explore as a teacher? Follow these instructions:
- Click the Boost Reading Teacher Platform button below.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter the student username: t1.scottsdaleunified@demo.tryamplify.net
- Enter the password: Amplify1-scottsdaleunified
- Click the CKLA icon.
- Select a grade level from the drop-down menu at the top of the page.
Explore as a student
Ready to explore as a student? Follow these instructions:
- Click the Boost Reading Student Hub button below.
- Select Log in with Amplify.
- Enter the student username: s1.scottsdaleunified@demo.tryamplify.net
- Enter the password: Amplify1-scottsdaleunified
- Click the Hub icon
- Select a grade level.
Check out these additional resources
Boost Reading review resources:
K-2 early literacy improvements offer hope, but persistent challenges remain
BROOKLYN, NY (February 26, 2024) – Amplify, a publisher of next-generation curriculum and assessment programs, today released a research brief on the latest K-2 middle-of-school-year literacy data. Findings reveal that while this year’s kindergarten cohort has returned to pre-pandemic literacy readiness levels, overall progress remains slow. Only 56 percent of students are on track for learning to read, and 29 percent of students are far behind.
“The return of our youngest students to pre-pandemic reading levels is encouraging—but that said, broad literacy trends in the United States are still concerning,” said Susan Lambert, chief academic officer, elementary humanities, at Amplify. “This is a moment to celebrate, but also a call to action: To prepare students for life-long success, we need all students exceeding pre-pandemic early reading levels. By regularly monitoring student progress via tools like middle-of-year data, educators can respond earlier when their students need support.”
The research brief outlines how middle-of-year data is uniquely positioned to help schools plan for instructional changes and implement those changes before the following school year.
Progress monitoring—identifying, supporting, and tracking outcomes—is one strategy schools can engage in when working with students who are the most at-risk for not learning to read. Using that data, they can provide differentiated support, developing foundational reading skills based on each student’s progress and proficiency.
Amplify encourages districts and schools to analyze middle-of-year data by school, grade, and classroom and create plans that:
- Ensure all students receive quality instruction grounded in the Science of Reading
- Identify students that need additional support and develop a plan for addressing their needs
- Allocate resources for additional support and implement those plans
- Regularly monitor progress for students and make adjustments as needed
About Amplify
A pioneer in K–12 education since 2000, Amplify is leading the way in next-generation curriculum and assessment. Our core and supplemental programs in ELA, math and science engage all students in rigorous learning and inspire them to think deeply, creatively and for themselves. Our formative assessment products help teachers identify the targeted instruction students need to build a strong foundation in early reading and math. All of our programs and services provide educators with powerful tools that help them understand and respond to the needs of every student. Today, Amplify serves more than 15 million students in all 50 states and on six continents. For more information, visit Amplify.com.
Media Contact: Kristine Frech; media@amplify.com
New data: early literacy readiness reaches post-pandemic high, but slowing momentum requires urgent focus on foundational skills
Brooklyn, NY (October 16, 2025) – Amplify, a publisher of next-generation curriculum and assessment programs, today released a research brief on the latest K–2 beginning-of-school-year literacy data. Findings reveal that at the beginning of the 2025–2026 school year, 48 percent of K–2 students were on track to learn to read, marking the highest literacy readiness level since the start of the pandemic. However, year-over-year progress has plateaued, and students have not yet reached pre-pandemic levels, highlighting the ongoing need for strong foundational skills instruction and support for struggling readers in the early grades.
The data also underscore the importance of early intervention. Longitudinal analysis shows that K-2 students who began the school year behind in reading readiness but managed to catch up by the end of the year were likely to remain on track through the end of third grade. The findings highlight how critical it is to intervene as early as possible to get students on track, as the likelihood of students achieving reading proficiency by third grade increases the earlier it happens.
“It’s encouraging to see nearly half of our youngest students ready for core instruction. This is a testament to the hard work of educators and the impact of evidence-based practices in the classroom,” said Susan Lambert, chief academic officer, elementary humanities, at Amplify. “However, the data point to a worrisome stall in year-over-year progress. This is a critical moment for a renewed, laser focus on early intervention. Our longitudinal findings make it abundantly clear: the earlier we get a student on track in K–2, the greater their likelihood of achieving reading success by the end of third grade.”
Amplify recommends that districts and schools consider administering a universal screener three times a year to follow student progress in early reading. With that information in hand, educators can make more informed decisions related to:
- Identifying students who need additional support;
- Ensuring all students receive quality instruction grounded in evidence-based practices, such as the Science of Reading;
- Developing plans for addressing student needs and allocating resources to implement those plans; and
- Regularly monitoring student progress and making adjustments as needed.
About Amplify
A pioneer in K–12 education since 2000, Amplify delivers next-generation curriculum and assessment on an intuitive, integrated platform that includes thousands of free lessons. Our high-quality programs in ELA, math, and science engage students in rigorous learning that inspires them to think deeply, creatively, and independently. Our formative assessment tools help teachers identify the instruction each student needs to build a strong foundation in reading and math. Across all programs and services, we equip educators with powerful tools to understand and respond to the needs of every learner. Today, Amplify serves more than 18 million students and teachers across all 50 states and in 6 continents worldwide. For more information, visit Amplify.com.
Media Contact: Kristine Frech; media@amplify.com
Beyond My Years: Transforming Science Through Three-Dimensional Learning
Wednesday, 7pm ET
Join Eric Cross as he discusses the latest practices in science education with real, experienced educators. You’ll hear how they take science instruction to the next level, have the opportunity to ask what high-level instruction looks like in a real classroom, and walk away with actionable insights for change.
Early reading data reveal progress overall, with varying outcomes for boys and girls
BROOKLYN, NY (July 2, 2025) – Amplify, a publisher of next-generation curriculum and assessment programs, today released a research brief on the latest K–2 end-of-school-year literacy data. Findings suggest that overall, more young students are on track to learn to read and fewer are behind than during the pandemic—8 percent more second graders, 14 percent more first graders, and 21 percent more kindergartners are at or above benchmark compared to the 2020-21 school year.
However, year-over-year improvements have slowed. Since the 2023-24 school year, the percentage of students on track has only improved by 1-2 points in each grade.
The data also show a nuanced picture of gender disparities in early reading. Across K–2, boys score the same or better than girls in reading readiness at the beginning of the year. But as the year progresses, girls show more improvement than boys, narrowing gaps and sometimes outperforming them by the end of the year.
“Five years out from the pandemic, we’re seeing encouraging signs that early literacy recovery is taking hold as more students across all early grades are on track to learn to read, with kindergarteners and first graders leading the recovery,” said Paul Gazzerro, director of customer data at Amplify.
Despite these successes, literacy trends across the United States remain a concern, as year-over-year progress remains slow.
“Grades K–2 remain critical years for literacy development,” said Susan Lambert, chief academic officer of elementary humanities at Amplify. “To support young readers, educators need data-driven insights into student reading development and instructional practices that are based in the Science of Reading.”
Amplify encourages districts and schools to analyze end-of-year data by school, grade, and classroom, and create integrated plans that:
- Administer benchmark assessments three times per year to monitor levels of risk for reading difficulties.
- Analyze student data and make informed decisions to support students who are at risk for not learning to read.
- Allocate additional instructional time and resources for at-risk students.
- Regularly monitor progress for students, making adjustments as needed.
- Ensure all students receive instruction that is evidence-based.
- Instill a love of reading during school programs, with caregiver and community support.
About Amplify
A pioneer in K–12 education since 2000, Amplify is leading the way in next-generation curriculum and assessment. Our core and supplemental programs in ELA, math and science engage all students in rigorous learning and inspire them to think deeply, creatively and for themselves. Our formative assessment products help teachers identify the targeted instruction students need to build a strong foundation in early reading and math. All of our programs and services provide educators with powerful tools that help them understand and respond to the needs of every student. Today, Amplify serves more than 15 million students in all 50 states and on six continents. For more information, visit Amplify.com.
Media Contact: Kristine Frech; media@amplify.com
Amplify expands supplemental offerings with K–8 adaptive reading program
Brooklyn, NY – (3/15/19): Amplify, a publisher of next-generation curriculum and assessment programs, announced today that it is expanding its offerings in the supplemental curriculum market with a new, highly engaging personalized reading program for grades K-8, Amplify Reading.
Based on the latest research on how children learn to read, Amplify Reading was designed with an advisory board of leading researchers and practitioners in the fields of early literacy and reading comprehension, including Jane Oakhill, Bruce McCandliss, Tim Shanahan, Kelly Cartwright, Art Graesser, Heidi Anne E. Mesmer, and Elfrieda Hiebert.
“Amplify Reading uniquely combines compelling, age-appropriate storylines with skill-appropriate instruction and practice driven by powerful adaptive technology,” said Melissa Ulan, senior vice president, Product, at Amplify. “Educators are seeing amazing reading progress with the program, in large part because students enjoy the characters and plot lines so much that teachers actually have to beg them to stop playing. We’re excited that the full K–8 program is now available for all educators to bring to their classrooms.”
Storytelling is at the heart of Amplify Reading, whether in an imaginative game world where a character that students create (called a Curioso) grows as their reading skills grow (grades K–1) or as a rebel fighter in a dystopian graphic novel (grades 6–8). The program was created with reading experts, game designers, educators, and students to be hyper-engaging and uses a patented algorithm to offer innovative adaptive instruction. This technology, combined with the engaging story world, ensures that students are working on the skills they need at the right time while embedded in an age-appropriate narrative. The program contains more than 50 research-based games mapped to specific reading skills and standards, authentic texts allowing students to apply their new reading skills, and robust teacher support tools, including an easy reporting dashboard and PDFs for additional teacher-led instruction.
“This program is extremely engaging and interactive for each student,” said Brittany, a 2nd-grade teacher in Utah who used an early version of Amplify Reading. “They begged to get on Amplify Reading, and they cried when it was time to log off! This program is a great addition to our curriculum.”
Amplify entered the core curriculum market in 2012 with the launch of Amplify CKLA, a knowledge-based elementary language arts program. It launched its middle school Amplify ELA program in 2014 and its K–8 Amplify Science program in 2017. Amplify introduced pilot versions of supplemental digital reading programs for grades K–2 and 6–8 for the 2017–2018 school year (the 6–8 version was formerly called Amplify Close Reading). The full Amplify Reading program now offers reading instruction and practice for all K–8 reading standards.
Amplify also offers mCLASS: Amplify Reading Edition, which combines its gold-standard assessment program, mCLASS, with adaptive instruction through Amplify Reading. mCLASS: Amplify Reading Edition is a seamlessly integrated early literacy solution with universal screening and personalized learning designed to support all students in learning to read on grade level by the end of elementary school. Amplify Reading is also compatible with Amplify’s K–5 ELA core curriculum, Amplify CKLA. Amplify Reading’s flexible, student-driven structure can be used in a number of ways to supplement Amplify CKLA’s core instruction—from reinforcing a unit’s key skills, to offering additional support, to providing academic enrichment.
About Amplify
A pioneer in K–12 education since 2000, Amplify is leading the way in next-generation curriculum and assessment. Our captivating core and supplemental programs in ELA, math, and science engage all students in rigorous learning and inspire them to think deeply, creatively, and for themselves. Our formative assessment products turn data into practical instructional support to help all students build a strong foundation in early reading and math. All of our programs provide teachers with powerful tools that help them understand and respond to the needs of every student. Today, Amplify serves more than four million students in all 50 states. For more information, visit amplify.com.
Contact: media@amplify.com
Amplify Reading named 2020 CODiE Award Finalist for Best Game-Based Curriculum Solution
Brooklyn, NY (April 20, 2020) — Amplify, a publisher of next-generation curriculum and assessment programs, today announced that Amplify Reading has been named a 2020 SIIA CODiE Award finalist in the Best Game-Based Curriculum Solution category. Award finalists represent applications, products, and services from developers of educational software, digital content, online learning services, and related technologies across the Pre-K–12 and higher education sectors.
Amplify Reading is a state-of-the-art supplemental digital literacy program that combines captivating storytelling, the latest literacy research, and sophisticated adaptivity to provide students with the exact instruction they need when they need it. Research has shown that the program enables students to make better-than-expected progress, reduces students’ risk for reading difficulty, and helps close achievement gaps for English learners.
Amplify Reading offers 50+ research-based games, each mapped to specific skills and standards that augment educators’ core instruction. The program also features an in-product companion called a Curioso who grows as younger students acquire skills. For older students, Amplify Reading immerses pre-teens in an interactive graphic novel where they join a rebel group to take on the machines and fight for the right to read again.
“It’s an honor to be named a finalist in the 2020 SIIA CODiE Awards,” said Melissa Ulan, senior vice president and general manager, supplementals, at Amplify. “We are thrilled to receive this recognition of Amplify Reading as an innovative and highly engaging program that helps students become strong and confident readers.”
For more than 30 years, the SIIA CODiE Awards are the premier awards for the software and information industries, recognizing product innovation and excellence. The awards are organized by industry categories in education technology and business technology. Amplify Reading was honored as one of 157 finalists across the 37 education technology categories.
The SIIA CODiE Awards are the industry’s only peer-reviewed awards program. Educators and administrators serve as judges and conduct the first-round review of all education nominees. Their scores determine the SIIA CODiE Award finalists, and SIIA members then vote on the finalist products. The scores from both rounds are tabulated to select the winners.
CODiE Award winners in education technology will be announced online May 19, 2020.
Details about the finalists can be found here.
About Amplify
A pioneer in K–12 education since 2000, Amplify is leading the way in next-generation curriculum and assessment. Our captivating core and supplemental programs in ELA, math, and science engage all students in rigorous learning and inspire them to think deeply, creatively, and for themselves. Our formative assessment products turn data into practical instructional support to help all students build a strong foundation in early reading and math. All of our programs provide teachers with powerful tools that help them understand and respond to the needs of every student. Today, Amplify serves five million students in all 50 states. For more information, visit amplify.com.
About the SIIA CODiE™ Awards
The SIIA CODiE Awards is the only peer-reviewed program to showcase business and education technology’s finest products and services. Since 1986, thousands of products, services and solutions have been recognized for achieving excellence. For more information, visit https://www.siia.net/codie.
About Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA)
SIIA is an umbrella association representing 800+ technology, data and media companies globally. Industry leaders work through SIIA’s divisions to address issues and challenges that impact their industry segments with the goal of driving innovation and growth for the industry and each member company. This is accomplished through in-person and online business development opportunities, peer networking, corporate education, intellectual property protection and government relations. For more information, visit siia.net.
Amplify CKLA Skills becomes first ELA foundational skills program to earn all-green scores from EdReports
(Brooklyn, NY – January 12, 2021) Amplify, a publisher of next-generation curriculum and assessment programs, announced today that EdReports.org, the independent, nonprofit curriculum reviewer, gave Amplify CKLA Skills for grades K-2 an all-green rating—the only all-green rating in the ELA foundational skills category. Green represents EdReports’ highest ranking, indicating that the program meets expectations for every gateway of the EdReports rigorous, teacher-led review process.
Amplify CKLA Skills is a foundational skills program built on the latest research on how children learn to read. The program is designed for teachers to use as a supplement to core ELA instruction, with a systematic scope and sequence that offers the explicit skills instruction needed to support all students in becoming confident readers. Decodables with dynamic stories and characters make learning to read rewarding and help educators teach all 44 sounds and their 150 spellings in a logical sequence that builds student independence.
“Our team here at Amplify is honored to receive an all-green report from EdReports for Amplify CKLA Skills,” said Susan Lambert, chief academic officer, elementary humanities at Amplify. “In a year when it’s especially critical to get reading instruction right, Amplify CKLA Skills can be worked into any classroom—whether it’s remote, hybrid, or in person. Based on the science of reading, Amplify CKLA Skills supports new and experienced teachers alike to teach foundational skills in a systematic and explicit way that will support all their students in becoming confident readers.”
Amplify CKLA Skills is often used by teachers in conjunction with Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (Amplify CKLA), the comprehensive core curriculum that brings a proven, systematic approach to foundational skills together with knowledge-rich reading, writing, speaking, and listening activities.
In addition to Amplify CKLA Skills, Amplify’s core literacy programs—Amplify CKLA (grades K–5) and Amplify ELA (grades 6–8) also received all-green scores on EdReports—as did Amplify Science for grades 6–8.
More information about Amplify CKLA Skills can be found here.
About Amplify
A pioneer in K–12 education since 2000, Amplify is leading the way in next-generation curriculum and assessment. Our core and supplemental programs in ELA, math, and science engage all students in rigorous learning and inspire them to think deeply, creatively, and for themselves. Our formative assessment products turn data into practical instructional support to help all students build a strong foundation in early reading and math. All of our programs provide teachers with powerful tools that help them understand and respond to the needs of every student. Today, Amplify serves seven million students in all 50 states. For more information, visit amplify.com.
Amplify Reading wins award for 2021 best remote and blended learning tools
(Brooklyn, New York – March 5, 2021) Amplify, a publisher of next-generation curriculum and assessment programs, today announced that Amplify Reading has been named a winner in Tech & Learning’s 2021 Best Remote & Blended Learning Tools awards for the Primary Grades (K–6) category. The award celebrates high-quality technologies that have helped students and teachers adapt to remote and hybrid learning environments.
Amplify Reading is a state-of-the-art supplemental digital literacy program that combines captivating storytelling, the latest literacy research, and sophisticated adaptivity to provide students with the exact instruction they need when they need it. Research has shown that the program enables students to make better-than-expected progress, reduces students’ risk for reading difficulty, and helps close achievement gaps for students learning English. With a completely student-centered design, Amplify Reading is the perfect program to bridge learning gaps while in the classroom and at home. Students can use it in any environment.
“We are honored to be named a winner of Tech & Learning’s Best Remote & Blended Learning Tools awards, especially during such a pivotal time in education” said Melissa Ulan, senior vice president and general manager, supplementals, at Amplify. “Amplify Reading helps provide targeted practice in foundational reading skills no matter where learning is happening. We are thrilled to be recognized.”
“Despite the many challenges schools have had to face this past year, technology continues to be one of the key drivers for innovation,” says Tech & Learning Group Publisher Christine Weiser. “The winning products recognized here have supported continuous instruction throughout the pandemic, and we expect this momentum to continue into next year and beyond.”
About Amplify
A pioneer in K–12 education since 2000, Amplify is leading the way in next-generation curriculum and assessment. Our captivating core and supplemental programs in ELA, math, and science engage all students in rigorous learning and inspire them to think deeply, creatively, and for themselves. Our formative assessment products turn data into practical instructional support to help all students build a strong foundation in early reading and math. All of our programs provide teachers with powerful tools that help them understand and respond to the needs of every student. Today, Amplify serves more than seven million students in all 50 states.
K–3 students show improvement in early literacy, but readiness has yet to match pre-pandemic levels
BROOKLYN, NY (November 9, 2023) — Amplify, a publisher of next-generation curriculum and assessment programs, released a research brief about national beginning-of-school-year (BOY) reading data today. Elementary school students are progressing toward early literacy levels that predate the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest data show more students across grades K–3 performing at levels on track for learning to read and ready for core instruction.
Measurable disparities in achievement between Black and Hispanic students and their Asian and white peers remain significant, but have narrowed in kindergarten and grade 1 since 2021–22. Among kindergarteners, the most recent data (2023–24) show increases of 12 percentage points for Black students and 13 percentage points for Hispanic students who are on track for learning to read. In first grade, the data show increases of 11 percentage points for Black students and 10 percentage points for Hispanic students who are on track for learning to read.
Despite the increase in the percentage of students on track, only half of K–3 students are prepared to read at grade level at the start of the school year, with 30 to 40 percent beginning the year needing intensive early literacy intervention. Students starting first, second, and third grade in 2023 are performing worse than their counterparts from 2019, the last academic year before the pandemic, while kindergarteners outperform their peers from the fall of 2019.
“The earliest grades are the most critical time for literacy development,” says Susan Lambert, chief academic officer of elementary humanities at Amplify. “Educators need data from BOY assessments to develop plans and allocate resources for students who are most at risk for not learning to read.”
Research-based reading instruction reduces the need for intervention and enables children to progress as capable, confident learners. Educators serving all students, and especially students in grades K–3 first learning to read, need data-driven insights into reading development, instructional practices based on the Science of Reading, and support helping students who require more targeted instruction and intervention to catch up.
Methodology
The report compares mCLASS® with DIBELS® 8th Edition benchmark data from the 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 school years. From more than 2 million students assessed with mCLASS, approximately 200,000 students in a matched set of 1,400 schools in 43 states are represented. The schools in the source data are slightly more likely to be in large urban metropolitan areas than the nation overall.
The data was collected using the mCLASS platform, which automates the data collection of Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS). DIBELS is a widely-used series of short tests developed by the University of Oregon that assess K–8 literacy. DIBELS is an observational assessment collected by teachers interacting with students one-on-one, either live or over video. DIBELS is typically administered three times a year (beginning, middle and end of year) and is used to identify reading difficulty, monitor progress, and inform instruction, especially for struggling readers.
About Amplify
A pioneer in K–12 education since 2000, Amplify is leading the way in next-generation curriculum and assessment. Our captivating core and supplemental programs in literacy, math, and science engage all students in rigorous learning and inspire them to think deeply, creatively, and for themselves. Our formative assessment products turn data into practical instructional support to help all students build a strong foundation in early reading and math. All of our programs provide teachers with powerful tools that help them understand and respond to the needs of every student. Today, Amplify reaches more than 15 million students in all 50 states. To learn more, visit amplify.com.
Media Contact
Kristine Frech
media@amplify.com
New report: Data show K–2 literacy improvements have slowed, overall literacy rates in the U.S. remain a concern
BROOKLYN, NY (March 13, 2024) – Amplify, a publisher of next-generation curriculum and assessment programs, today released a research brief on the latest middle-of-school-year reading data for K–2. Findings reveal that throughout the spring and fall of 2023, schools across the country made some progress increasing the number of K–2 students on track for learning to read, but that progress has slowed.
Across grades K–2, only half of students are on track for learning to read, and three in ten students are far behind. The data demonstrate how literacy rates in the United States remain a concern: Too many students are at risk of failing to read proficiently by the end of third grade, an important indicator of future academic success.
“The data is clear—literacy rates at the earliest and most critical time for student development are slowing. Changing this course requires schools and districts to act now and review their approaches in all grades,” said Susan Lambert, chief academic officer of elementary humanities at Amplify. “Schools that deliver strong outcomes focus on building a solid foundation at the start and intervening quickly when students need extra support, rather than trying to play catch up later, when it can be more difficult.”
In the brief, Amplify also outlines recommendations for how schools and districts can improve outcomes, including investing in a reliable universal screener, high-quality core curriculum, evidence-based interventions, and professional development for teachers. With these resources schools and districts should:
- Administer universal screening assessments three times per year to monitor levels of risk for reading difficulties.
- Allocate staff to support students who are at risk, spending additional time in literacy instruction beyond grade-level instruction.
- Regularly monitor progress for students who are at risk, making adjustments as needed.
- Ensure instructional staff gain knowledge about science-based reading instruction and implement high-quality core curriculum with fidelity.
- And instill a love of reading and books during all school-based programs, with the support of caregivers and the community.
“The good news is that when students receive science-based reading instruction, outcomes improve,” continued Lambert. “And, when that instruction takes place in the earliest possible grades, research shows that most students can be taught to read at or approaching grade level.”
About Amplify
A pioneer in K–12 education since 2000, Amplify is leading the way in next-generation curriculum and assessment. Our core and supplemental programs in ELA, math and science engage all students in rigorous learning and inspire them to think deeply, creatively and for themselves. Our formative assessment products help teachers identify the targeted instruction students need to build a strong foundation in early reading and math. All of our programs and services provide educators with powerful tools that help them understand and respond to the needs of every student. Today, Amplify serves more than 15 million students in all 50 states and on six continents. For more information, visit Amplify.com.
Media Contact: Kristine Frech; media@amplify.com
Unlock possibility with the Science of Writing
The reality is…writing is hard. It’s hard to learn, it’s hard to teach, it’s hard to do.
Natalie Wexler, author of The Knowledge Gap and The Writing Revolution, says, “Writing is the hardest thing we ask students to do.” Fortunately, we have decades of research that shows us how best to teach and learn how to write, known as the Science of Writing. As an educator your job is to make this hard task easier and more fulfilling for students. And our job is to help you.

Why writing matters: Connection, expression, and better reading comprehension
Without writing, there would be no need for reading, and of course, writing is a part of literacy.
Through writing, students can express their ideas, connect with others, and deepen and communicate their understanding of what they are reading and thinking.
Having strong writing skills ensures students can engage fully in all settings, share their opinions and information, tell stories, and have a voice.
What is the Science of Writing?
Learning to write (and read) isn’t natural but it can be taught—and research shows us how. Like the Science of Reading, the Science of Writing is the collection of research and evidence-based practices that explains how writing develops along with the teaching strategies that help students develop into skilled writers.
Writing proficiency involves mastering the use of a complex set of skills that must be taught explicitly, again just like reading proficiency. The Simple View of Writing breaks down these processes into transcription and composition, and provides us with a framework for guiding instruction.


The relationship between reading and writing
Reading and writing reinforce and support each other. When reading, students are exposed to vocabulary, grammar, and syntax. And when writing, students can get more practice to improve the fluency and efficiency of their handwriting, and apply their knowledge of spelling and their understanding of vocabulary, grammar, and syntax.
Readers use comprehension skills such as summarizing, predicting, and making inferences to help them create meaning as they read. Writers use those same skills to develop a piece of writing that is clear and concise for the reader.
The benefits of applying reading skills and strategies when writing
- If you teach students decoding skills, then they become better spellers.
- If students learn strategies for planning, drafting, and revising during composition, then their reading comprehension improves.
- If students have word and vocabulary knowledge, then they’re better at expressing their ideas in writing.


Oral language and writing
Oral language is the foundation for literacy, and its development begins in infancy. As their oral language develops, children learn how to string words into phrases and sentences, which progresses into telling stories and answering questions in detail. And as they listen to stories, children develop vocabulary and understanding of syntax and grammar. All of these build a foundation for writing.
Discovering the Science of Writing
Explore helpful resources to learn more about the Science of Writing, and the importance of implementing evidence-based instructional practices into your classroom, school, and district.


Books:

Articles:

Webinars:
- The Science of Reading: The Next Chapter
- The Science of Reading + Writing: Turning a New Page Together
- The Writing Chapter: Sparking the Writing Revolution with the Latest Insights and Research
- Writing and the Science of Reading Forum Panel Discussion: How does Writing Intersect with Reading?, Education Week
Change in math is different
Improving math instruction—and making it work for all your students—feels like a much-needed change. But it’s not as simple as increasing instructional time, maxing out on fluency practice, or setting up new math centers with tons of manipulatives. It requires structure and balance.
The good news is that managing change in the math classroom doesn’t have to mean reconfiguring your day, throwing out all your existing resources, or making it the focus of your life for the next five years. It starts with a few simple shifts.


A structured path to change
Ready to start the shift to structured problem-based learning? With the right systems, the right partners, and above all, the right plan, the change doesn’t need to overwhelm your life. Get all the benefits with far fewer headaches—download our playbook to start building your own personalized strategy.
Making the shift: Problem-based learning for the real world
Lots of people will tell you that problem-based learning is the answer. If only it were that simple! Maybe you’ve tried it already without success. Maybe you don’t see how it could work in your current classroom setup. Maybe it just seems too daunting.
We agree that problem-based learning is great. But it needs structure. Brush up on the latest research to find out why structured problem-based learning makes all the difference. You have too much on your plate already to have to reinvent math instruction from scratch.

How problem-based learning supports all your students
With structured problem-based learning, students discover that there’s more than one way to tackle a problem, and that mistakes are a path to learning. A student who doesn’t often speak up might have the best insight in the classroom. Or a student with an unusual approach to a math question might trigger revelations for other students. Or, maybe students just feel more comfortable sharing their ideas with their peers instead of their teacher. A collaborative approach helps all students learn from each other and inspires everyone to be a “math person.”

The foundation for long-lasting and real transformation
Change is more likely to stick and get results when you take a systemic approach. Partner with us to do just that by developing a learning plan that will drive your program implementation, enrich your instructional practices, and increase student impact. Amplify’s high-quality programs make it easier for you to teach inspiring, impactful lessons that celebrate and develop the brilliance of your students.

Math routine cards
Find easy-to-implement routines to keep students interacting and engaged with a lesson.

2024 Math Symposium
Access best practices and educational resources from math leaders through our on-demand Math Symposium.

Math Teacher Lounge archives
Hear strategies from Dan Meyer and Bethany Lockhart Johnson on the Math Teacher Lounge podcast.
A closer look at grades K–2
Amplify Science California is based on the latest research on teaching and learning and helps teachers deliver age-appropriate, high-quality, literacy-rich instruction that enables students to take on the roles of scientists and engineers to solve real-world phenomena every day.
In the K–2 classroom, this looks like students:
- Collecting evidence from a variety of sources.
- Making sense of evidence in a variety of ways.
- Formulating convincing scientific arguments.


Program structure
Our cyclical lesson design ensures students receive multiple exposures to concepts through a variety of modalities. As they progress through the lessons within a unit, their understanding gradually builds and deepens, ultimately leading to their ability to develop and refine increasingly complex explanations of the unit’s phenomenon.
It’s this proven program structure and lesson design that enables Amplify Science California to teach less, but achieve more. Rather than asking teachers to wade through unnecessary content, we designed our K–2 program to address 100% of the California NGSS in just 66 days.
Scope and sequence
Every year of our K–2 consists of 3 units and 66 total lessons. Said another way, each unit contains 20 lessons plus two dedicated assessment days (a Pre-Unit Assessment and End-of-Unit Assessment).
Lessons at grades K–1 are written for a minimum of 45-minutes, and grade 2 lessons are written for a minimum of 60-minutes—though teachers can expand or contract the timing to meet their needs.

Unit types
While every unit delivers three-dimensional learning experiences and engages students in gathering evidence from a rich collection of sources, each unit also emphasizes a particular science and engineering practice.
In each grade K–2:
- One unit emphasizes the practice of investigation.
- One unit emphasizes the practice of modeling.
- One unit emphasizes the practice of engineering design.
Investigation Units
Investigation units focus on the process of strategically developing investigations and gathering data to answer questions. Students are first asked to consider questions about what happens in the natural world and why, and are then involved in designing and conducting investigations that produce data to help answer those questions.
Modeling Units
Modeling units provide extra support to students engaging in the practice of modeling. Students use physical models, investigate with computer models, and create their own diagrams to help them visualize what might be happening on the nanoscale.
Engineering Design Units
Engineering design units provide opportunities for students to solve complex problems by applying science principles to the design of functional solutions, and iteratively testing those solutions to determine how well they meet preset criteria.
Units at a glance

Needs of Plants and Animals
Domains: Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Investigation
Student role: Scientists
Phenomenon: There are no monarch caterpillars in the Mariposa Grove community garden since vegetables were planted.

Pushes and Pulls
Domains: Physical Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Engineering design
Student role: Pinball engineers
Phenomenon: Pinball machines allow people to control the direction and strength of forces on a ball.

Sunlight and Weather
Domains: Earth and Space Science, Life Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Modeling
Student role: Weather scientists
Phenomenon: Students at Carver Elementary School are too cold during morning recess, while students at Woodland Elementary School are too hot during afternoon recess.

Animal and Plant Defenses
Domain: Life Science
Unit type: Modeling
Student role: Marine scientists
Phenomenon: Spruce the Sea Turtle lives in an aquarium and will soon be released back into the ocean, where she will survive despite ocean predators.

Light and Sound
Domains: Physical Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Engineering design
Student role: Light and sound engineers
Phenomenon: A puppet show company uses light and sound to depict realistic scenes in puppet shows.

Spinning Earth
Domain: Earth and Space Science
Unit type: Investigation
Student role: Sky scientists
Phenomenon: The sky looks different to Sai and his grandma when they talk on the phone.

Plant and Animal Relationships
Domains: Life Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Investigation
Student role: Plant scientists
Phenomenon: No new chalta trees are growing in the fictional Bengal Tiger Reserve in India.

Properties of Materials
Domains: Physical Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Engineering design
Student role: Glue engineers
Phenomenon: Different glue recipes result in glues that have different properties.

Changing Landforms
Domain: Earth and Space Science
Unit type: Modeling
Student role: Geologists
Phenomenon: The cliff that Oceanside Recreation Center is situated on appears to be receding over time.
Resources
A closer look at grades 3–5
Amplify Science is based on the latest research on teaching and learning and helps teachers deliver age-appropriate, high-quality, literacy-rich instruction that enables students to take on the roles of scientists and engineers to solve real-world phenomena every day.
In the 3–5 classroom, this looks like students:
- Collecting evidence from a variety of sources.
- Making sense of evidence in a variety of ways.
- Formulating convincing scientific arguments.


Program structure
Our cyclical lesson design ensures students receive multiple exposures to concepts through a variety of modalities. As they progress through the lessons within a unit, students build and deepen their understanding, increasing their ability to develop and refine complex explanations of the unit’s phenomenon.
It’s this proven program structure and lesson design that enables Amplify Science California to teach less, but achieve more. Rather than asking teachers to wade through unnecessary content, we designed our 3–5 program to address 100% of the California NGSS in just 88 days.
Scope and sequence
Every year of our grades 3–5 sequence consists of 4 units and 88 lessons. Said another way, each unit contains 20 lessons plus two dedicated assessment days (a Pre-Unit Assessment and End-of-Unit Assessment).
Lessons for grades 3–5 are written to last a minimum of 60 minutes, though teachers can expand or contract the timing to meet their needs.

Unit types
Each unit delivers three-dimensional learning experiences and engages students in gathering evidence from a rich collection of sources, while also emphasizing a particular science and engineering practice.
In grades 3–5:
- One unit emphasizes the practice of investigation.
- One unit emphasizes the practice of modeling.
- One unit emphasizes the practice of engineering design.
- One unit emphasizes the practice of argumentation.
Investigation Units
Investigation units focus on the process of strategically developing investigations and gathering data to answer questions. Students are first asked to consider questions about what happens in the natural world and why, and are then involved in designing and conducting investigations that produce data to help answer those questions.
Modeling Units
Modeling units provide extra support to students engaging in the practice of modeling. Students use physical models, investigate with computer models, and create their own diagrams to help them visualize what might be happening on the nanoscale.
Engineering Design Units
Engineering design units provide opportunities for students to solve complex problems by applying science principles to the design of functional solutions, and iteratively testing those solutions to determine how well they meet preset criteria.
Argumentation units
Argumentation units provide students with regular opportunities to explore and discuss available evidence, time and support to consider how evidence may be leveraged in support of claims, and independence that increases as they mount written arguments in support of their claims.
Units at a glance

Balancing Forces
Domain: Physical Science
Unit type: Modeling
Student role: Engineers
Phenomenon: The town of Faraday is getting a new train that floats above its tracks.

Inheritance and Traits
Domain: Life Science
Unit type: Investigation
Student role: Wildlife biologists
Phenomenon: An adopted wolf in Graystone National Park (“Wolf 44”) has some traits that appear similar to one wolf pack in the park and other traits that appear to be similar to a different wolf pack.

Environments and Survival
Domains: Life Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Engineering design
Student role: Biomimicry engineers
Phenomenon: Over the last 10 years, a population of grove snails has changed: The number of grove snails with yellow shells has decreased, while the number of snails with banded shells has increased.

Weather and Climate
Domains: Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Argumentation
Student role: Meteorologists
Phenomenon: Three different islands, each a contender for becoming an Orangutan reserve, experience different weather patterns.

Energy Conversions
Domains: Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Engineering design
Student role: System engineers
Phenomenon: The fictional town of Ergstown experiences frequent blackouts.

Vision and Light
Domain: Physical Science, Life Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Investigation
Student role: Conservation biologists
Phenomenon: The population of Tokay geckos in a rain forest in the Philippines has decreased since the installation of new highway lights.

Earth’s Features
Domain: Earth and Space Science
Unit type: Argumentation
Student role: Geologists
Phenomenon: A mysterious fossil is discovered in a canyon within the fictional Desert Rocks National Park.

Waves, Energy, and Information
Domains: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Modeling
Student role: Marine scientists
Phenomenon: Mother dolphins in the fictional Blue Bay National Park seem to be communicating with their calves when they are separated at a distance underwater.

Patterns of Earth and Sky
Domains: Physical Science, Earth and Space Science
Unit type: Investigation
Student role: Astronomers
Phenomenon: An ancient artifact depicts what we see in the sky at different times — the sun during the daytime and different stars during the nighttime — but it is missing a piece.

Modeling Matter
Domain: Physical Science
Unit type: Modeling
Student role: Food scientists
Phenomenon: Chromatography is a process for separating mixtures. Some solids dissolve in a salad dressing while others do not. Oil and vinegar appear to separate when mixed in a salad dressing.

The Earth System
Domains: Earth and Space Science, Physical Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Engineering Design
Student role: Water resource engineers
Phenomenon: East Ferris, a city on one side of the fictional Ferris Island, is experiencing a water shortage, while West Ferris is not.

Ecosystem Restoration
Domains:Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Argumentation
Student role: Ecologists
Phenomenon: The jaguars, sloths, and cecropia trees in a reforested section of a Costa Rican rain forest are not growing and thriving.
Resources
A closer look at grades 6–8
Amplify Science California is based on the latest research on teaching and learning and helps teachers deliver rigorous and riveting lessons through hands-on investigations, literacy-rich activities, and interactive digital tools that empower students to think, read, write, and argue like real scientists.
In the 6–8 classroom, this looks like students:
- Collecting evidence from a variety of sources.
- Making sense of evidence in a variety of ways.
- Formulating convincing scientific arguments.
Is your school implementing the domain model? Click here.


Program structure
Our cyclical lesson design ensures students receive multiple exposures to concepts through a variety of modalities. As they progress through the lessons within a unit, students build and deepen their understanding, increasing their ability to develop and refine complex explanations of the unit’s phenomenon.
It’s this proven program structure and lesson design that enables Amplify Science California to teach less, but achieve more. Rather than asking teachers to wade through unnecessary content, we designed our 6–8 program to address 100% of the California NGSS in fewer lessons than other programs.
Scope and sequence
Every year our grades 6–8 sequence consists of 9 units, with each unit containing 10–19 lessons. Lessons are written to last a minimum of 45-minutes, though teachers can expand or contract the timing to meet their needs.

Unit types
Each unit delivers three-dimensional learning experiences and engages students in gathering evidence from a rich collection of sources, while also serving a unique purpose.
In grades 6–8, there are three types of units:
- One unit is a launch unit.
- Three units are core units.
- Two units are engineering internships.
Launch units
Launch units are the first units taught in each year of Amplify Science California. The goal of the Launch unit is to introduce students to norms, routines, and practices that will be built on throughout the year, including argumentation, active reading, and using the program’s technology. For example, rather than taking the time to explain the process of active reading in every unit in a given year, it is explained thoroughly in the Launch unit, thereby preparing students to read actively in all subsequent units.
Core units
Core units establish the context of the unit by introducing students to a real-world problem. As students move through lessons in a Core unit, they figure out the unit’s anchoring phenomenon, gain an understanding of the unit’s disciplinary core ideas and science and engineering practices, and make linkages across topics through the crosscutting concepts. Each Core unit culminates with a Science Seminar and final writing activity.
Engineering Internship units
Engineering Internship units invite students to design solutions for real-world problems as interns for a fictional company called Futura. Students figure out how to help those in need, from tsunami victims in Sri Lanka to premature babies, through the application of engineering practices. In the process, they apply and deepen their learning from Core units.
Units at a glance

Microbiome
Domain: Life Science
Unit type: Launch
Student role: Microbiological researchers
Phenomenon: The presence of 100 trillion microorganisms living on and in the human body may keep the body healthy.

Metabolism
Domain: Life Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Medical researchers
Phenomenon: Elisa, a young patient, feels tired all the time.

Metabolism Engineering Internship
Domains: Life Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Engineering internship
Student role: Food engineers
Phenomenon: Designing health bars with different molecular compositions can effectively meet the metabolic needs of patients or rescue workers.

Traits and Reproduction
Domain: Life Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Biomedical students
Phenomenon: Darwin’s bark spider offspring have different silk flexibility traits, even though they have the same parents.

Thermal Energy
Domain: Physical Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Thermal scientists
Phenomenon: One of two proposed heating systems for Riverdale School will best heat the school.

Ocean, Atmosphere, and Climate
Domains: Earth and Space Science, Physical Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Climatologists
Phenomenon: During El Niño years, the air temperature in Christchurch, New Zealand is cooler than usual.

Weather Patterns
Domains: Earth and Space Science, Physical Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Forensic meteorologists
Phenomenon: In recent years, rainstorms in Galetown have been unusually severe.

Earth’s Changing Climate
Domains: Earth and Space Science, Life Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Climatologists
Phenomenon: The ice on Earth’s surface is melting.

Earth’s Changing Climate Engineering Internship
Domains: Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Engineering internship
Student role: Civil engineers
Phenomenon: Designing rooftops with different modifications can reduce a city’s impact on climate change.

Geology on Mars
Domain: Earth and Space Science
Unit type: Launch
Student role: Planetary geologists
Phenomenon: Analyzing data about landforms on Mars can provide evidence that Mars may have once been habitable.

Plate Motion
Domain: Earth and Space Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Geologists
Phenomenon: Mesosaurus fossils have been found on continents separated by thousands of kilometers of ocean, even though the Mesosaurus species once lived all together.

Plate Motion Engineering Internship
Domains: Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Engineering internship
Student role: Mechanical engineering interns
Phenomenon: Patterns in earthquake data can be used to design an effective tsunami warning system.

Rock Transformations
Domain: Earth and Space Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Geologists
Phenomenon: Rock samples from the Great Plains and from the Rocky Mountains — regions hundreds of miles apart — look very different, but have surprisingly similar mineral compositions.

Phase Change
Domains: Physical Science, Earth and Space Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Chemists
Phenomenon: A methane lake on Titan no longer appears in images taken by a space probe two years apart

Force and Motion Engineering Internship
Domains: Engineering Design, Physical Science
Unit type: Engineering internship
Student role: Mechanical engineering interns
Phenomenon: Designing emergency supply delivery pods with different structures can maintain the integrity of the supply pods and their contents.

Chemical Reactions
Domains: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Forensic chemists
Phenomenon: A mysterious brown substance has been detected in the tap water of Westfield.

Populations and Resources
Domains: Life Science, Earth and Space Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Biologists
Phenomenon: The size of the moon jelly population in Glacier Sea has increased.

Matter and Energy in Ecosystems
Domains: Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Physical Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Ecologists
Phenomenon: The biodome ecosystem has collapsed.

Harnessing Human Energy
Domains: Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering Design
Unit type: Launch
Student role: Energy scientists
Phenomenon: Rescue workers can use their own human kinetic energy to power the electrical devices they use during rescue missions.

Force and Motion
Domain: Physical Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Physicists
Phenomenon: The asteroid sample-collecting pod failed to dock at the space station as planned.

Phase Change Engineering Internship
Domains: Engineering Design, Physical Science
Unit type: Engineering internship
Student role: Chemical engineering interns
Phenomenon: Designing portable baby incubators with different combinations of phase change materials can keep babies at a healthy temperature.

Magnetic Fields
Domain: Physical Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Physicists
Phenomenon: During a test launch, a spacecraft traveled much faster than expected.

Light Waves
Domains: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Spectroscopists
Phenomenon: The rate of skin cancer is higher in Australia than in other parts of the world.

Earth, Moon, and Sun
Domains: Earth and Space Science, Physical Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Astronomers
Phenomenon: An astrophotographer can only take pictures of specific features on the Moon at certain times.

Natural Selection
Domains: Life Science, Earth and Space Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Biologists
Phenomenon: The newt population in Oregon State Park has become more poisonous over time.

Natural Selection Engineering Internship
Domains: Engineering Design, Life Science
Unit type: Engineering internship
Student role: Clinical engineers
Phenomenon: Designing malaria treatment plans that use different combinations of drugs can reduce drug resistance development while helping malaria patients.

Evolutionary History
Domains: Life Science, Earth and Space Science
Unit type: Core
Student role: Paleontologists
Phenomenon: A mystery fossil at the Natural History Museum has similarities with both wolves and whales.




















































