Assessments play a valuable role in understanding student learning and shaping instruction. They help educators plan lessons, tailor learning experiences, and identify students who may need additional support or enrichment. A key assessment tool is universal screening, which is used to detect academic or behavioral opportunities or challenges early on. In this post, we’ll explain what universal screening is, why it’s important, and how it can strengthen your teaching practice.
Universal screening defined
Universal screening in education refers to a proactive, systematic process where all students are assessed using the same tools. Some assessments administered are designed to identify students who may be at risk for learning difficulties or behavioral challenges. Other universal screeners can be used to identify students that need enrichment, advanced placement, or possibly gifted programming. The universal screening process typically involves using standardized tools that measure skills in areas like reading, math, and behavior. The data gathered from these assessments can be used to further guide evaluation and support for students.
Main purpose of universal screening assessments
The main goal of universal screening is early identification. By screening all students, teachers and school leaders can detect potential challenges that may become barriers to learning or uncover potential strengths that can be nurtured to accelerate learning. Preemptively identifying these areas of growth gives educators the opportunity to intervene promptly and provide students with targeted support.
How often should students receive universal screening?
Most schools conduct universal screening three times a year: in the fall, winter, and spring. Doing so allows educators to monitor student progress, respond to emerging needs, and adjust intervention when needed. Some schools and districts may screen more frequently, for example screening new students to the district.
What information is and is not provided by universal screening data?
Universal screening data provides an overview of students’ performance in key academic or behavioral areas. It highlights broad skill levels, reveals patterns across classrooms or grade levels, and helps determine which students may need additional assessment, intervention, or enrichment. However, universal screening data does not offer a full explanation of why a student is struggling or excelling or what specific instructional strategies they need. For this reason, screening data should be viewed as a starting point that guides a deeper exploration of each student's needs.
Examples of universal screening assessments
Universal screening assessments come in several forms, each designed to quickly identify students who may need additional support or enrichment in key areas such as reading, math, and behavior.
- Reading screeners often measure foundational skills like phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, and comprehension to determine whether students are on track for grade-level literacy. MAP Growth Reading is an example of reading screener. MAP Growth Reading for K-2 assesses early literacy skills including foundational skills, vocabulary, comprehension of literacy and information text, and elements of writing. MAP Growth Reading for third grade and above focuses on independent reading comprehension of literacy and informational text and vocabulary. Other examples would be Amira’s dyslexia screener and MAP Reading Fluency, which identify students at risk for dyslexia and other reading difficulties by listening to them read aloud and assessing various reading-related skills.
- Math screeners typically assess number sense, computation, problem-solving, and fluency with grade-level standards to identify gaps in conceptual understanding or procedural skills. MAP Growth Math is a math screener that measures achievement and growth and, through linking studies to state summative assessments, helps identify students at risk of not meeting grade level proficiency.
- Behavioral screeners focus on indicators such as attention, peer relationships, self-regulation, and overall risk factors that may impact a student’s ability to learn and engage in school.
Universal screening and MTSS, PBIS, and RTI
Universal screening is a key competent in the implementation of academic and behavioral intervention systems, like:
- MTSS (Multi-tiered System of Support), a tiered framework used to provide support to all students.
- PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports), a framework for improving school climate by encouraging positive behaviors.
- RTI (Response to Intervention), a preventive framework where students are screened and then given support to address their individual needs.
The intervention process begins with universal screening. An assessment is given to all students as part of the MTSS, RTI, or PBIS systems to identify students who are at risk of learning or behavioral challenges. The results of the assessment would indicate which students would benefit from additional academic or behavioral supports or interventions.
Is universal screening considered formative, summative, or diagnostic assessment?
Assessments serve different purposes at different stages of learning. Broadly, there are three main types of assessments:
- Diagnostic assessment happen prior to instruction to evaluate student’s strengths, challenges, and background knowledge.
- Formative assessment is an ongoing, low-stakes process of gathering evidence and real-time feedback during instruction to guide teaching and improve learning.
- Summative assessment is typically given after a learning activity or at the end of an instructional period, such as a unit, term, or course to measure students’ overall mastery of content or achievement of learning objectives.
Universal screeners do not fit neatly into these forms of assessments. They are a high-level snapshot tool for identifying students who may need additional support or enrichment. However, they can be used alongside these forms of assessment. For example, after a universal screener is administered, a diagnostic assessment can be given to students who need it. The diagnostic assessment would then pinpoint the specific skills students need help with. Afterwards, ongoing formative assessments can be used to see if interventions are working or if they need to be adjusted before re-screening is done.
Universal screening and progress monitoring
Progress monitoring is a type of formative assessment that works hand-in-hand with universal screening. The progress monitoring process involves regularly collecting and analyzing student data to assess student performance and track growth over time. By using progress monitoring, teachers can evaluate the effectiveness of instruction and intervention, adjusting as needed. This process occurs on a frequent basis (often weekly). After universal screening identifies students who need additional support, progress monitoring tools help teachers follow student progress and refine interventions to ensure success.
The universal screening process
Implementing a universal screening process requires a clear, organized set of steps to identifying student needs and provide appropriate instruction or intervention. Consider the following steps for your school’s universal screening process.
Identify the purpose for screening
Begin by defining the purpose, timeline, and scope of universal screening in your school. Establish a leadership team, clarify roles, and determine how the screening will align with existing MTSS or intervention systems.
Select a screening tool
Choose a reliable, research-based tool that aligns with your school’s goals and the needs of your student population. Consider factors such as ease of administration, data reports available, and how well the tool measures the skills or behaviors you aim to monitor.
Train teachers and staff
Provide thorough training so teachers and staff understand the purpose of screening, how to administer the tool, and how to interpret and use the data appropriately. Ensuring consistency in administration helps produce accurate, actionable results.
Administer the screening
Conduct the screening within the designated window, following standardized procedures to ensure fairness and accuracy. Communicate expectations clearly to staff and ensure all students participate.
Analyze the data
Review results at the school, grade, and individual student levels to identify trends and areas of need. Use team-based discussion to interpret data and determine which students may require additional support or enrichment.
How to choose a universal screener
There are several important factors to consider when choosing a universal screener. It is important to select a tool that is reliable, research-based, and able to provide accurate, actionable data to inform instruction. The tool should also align with your district or school's specific standards and goals. For example, if your school is looking to improve reading outcomes, you may need a screener that assesses early literacy. Additionally, look for user-friendly screeners that staff can easily administer and interpret, helping ensure consistent implementation and meaningful use of results. By keeping these factors in mind, schools can select a screener that supports effective decision making and fosters student growth.
Universal screening data: Using and interpreting data
Interpreting and using universal screening data is an important part of the universal screening process. By examining patterns and individual results, educators can spot students who may require intervention or those who may benefit from enrichment. Data from screeners also helps inform instruction by highlighting strengths and gaps in student learning, allowing teachers to adjust core instruction, differentiate lessons, and provide appropriate support. Additionally, universal screening data supports ongoing monitoring of the effectiveness of interventions. Interim universal screeners paired with formative assessments can help teachers determine whether students are making progress, whether strategies need to be adjusted, or whether more intensive support is needed.
Universal screening is a powerful tool that helps schools identify student needs early and provide timely, targeted support. By implementing universal screening, schools can strengthen instruction and better ensure that every student receives the support or enrichment they need.
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For more on data-driven assessments and instruction, explore HMH assessments that provide educators a complete picture of student achievement.
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