Exceptional Outcomes

i-Ready is back in the headlines, and this time it’s out of Michigan and California.

Both states reviewed it and said the same thing:
It does not meet the bar for a universal screener.

Worth noting: Georgia found the same thing. The difference? It was added back by our superintendent because it’s widely used.

Here are the problems:

1. Borderline blind spot
Misses the 30th–40th percentile; the kids were supposed to catch early.

2. Phonemic awareness problem
Clicking ≠ actually hearing and manipulating sounds.
👉 That’s how risk gets missed.

3. Adaptive = risky
It can skip key skills entirely.
👉 If it’s not measured, it’s not identified.

This behaves like a diagnostic, not a screener. I’m grateful to see states like Michigan and California hold the line unlike Georgia!

When it comes to screening, popular shouldn’t be the bar, effectiveness should be!

Read more: https://open.substack.com/pub/decodingmom/p/michigan-rejected-i-ready-as-a-k?r=46qttl&utm_medium=ios

EP. 504 plan.

Two terms you’ll hear fast when your child struggles with reading. And most parents ask the same question: which one actually helps?

A 504 can make school more manageable. An IEP (Individualized Education Plan) can include real instruction.

But here’s the part most people miss: neither one guarantees progress. The label doesn’t drive results. Instruction does. If reading instruction doesn’t change, the outcome usually won’t either.

In this blog, we break down the difference, what each plan actually provides, what to ask in school meetings, and what helps children with dyslexia learn to read.

Because your child doesn’t just need support, they need the right instruction.

Just 4% of schools screen all learners for dyslexia.

80% of dyslexics leave school unidentified.

But by helping teachers to understand what to look for, we can help many more dyslexic learners to be spotted, supported and empowered in the classroom.

If you're a teacher, or a parent, learn how to spot the signs of dyslexia using Kate's book Xtraordinary People: https://learning.dk.com/uk/books/9780241705124/xtraordinary-people