Massachusetts Mandated Reading Screenings in 2023—But Schools Aren’t Being Checked
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If your child has been struggling to build reading skills, you already know something important: early identification makes all the difference. You’ve probably watched your son or daughter work harder than peers while falling behind, wondering when someone would notice. You’re not imagining things. Research consistently shows that the earlier we identify reading differences, the faster children can develop the skills they need. But here’s the problem Massachusetts is now facing: the state mandated screening but never built in accountability.
TL;DR
Massachusetts mandated twice-yearly reading difference screenings for all K-3 students in 2023 but has no compliance monitoring system.
The Senate version of a literacy bill includes a reporting requirement that would track screening frequency and timing; the House version excludes it.
Advocates say mandatory reporting is essential to ensure children actually receive early identification and intervention.
A conference committee is currently negotiating final bill language that could determine whether oversight provisions survive.
Even with reporting requirements, advocates note that meaningful consequences for non-compliance would need to be established.
Screenings Mandated But Not Monitored
Massachusetts made a significant move in 2023, requiring all school districts to screen every kindergarten through third-grade student for reading differences twice per year. This was celebrated as a major step forward in getting children help earlier rather than later.
But there’s a critical gap: no one is checking whether schools are actually following through. According to Decoding Dyslexia executive director Nancy Duggan, “There is no oversight. No one is keeping track of how schools are doing this and that makes it hard to know if kids are getting the help they need.”
This means the law exists on paper but may not be reaching the children it was designed to protect.
A sweeping literacy bill currently working through the Massachusetts legislature could change this. The Senate version includes a provision requiring districts to report to state officials how often and when they conduct reading screenings, along with the procedures they use.
Senator Sal DiDomenico, an Everett Democrat who has pushed to strengthen reading screening requirements, shared a personal reason for his advocacy: his own son “felt stupid” because he struggled with reading differences in grade school. “Getting the screening part down is critical,” DiDomenico said. “Because if you’re not screening and diagnosing kids with reading differences, it becomes an impediment to them getting services.”
The House version of the bill, however, does not include this reporting requirement—leaving the oversight gap unfilled.
Author Quote"
Quote: There is no oversight. No one is keeping track of how schools are doing this and that makes it hard to know if kids are getting the help they need. Attribution: Nancy Duggan, Executive Director, Decoding Dyslexia
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Not applicable - no significant bias identified
Why Timing and Accountability Matter
For screenings to be effective, experts say students should be tested at the beginning of the school year to identify who needs support, then again in the second half of the year to measure progress. Without this data, children can slip through the cracks.
Helen Peske, president of the National Council on Teacher Quality, called the Senate’s reporting requirement “critically important” because it will help “hold districts accountable to doing the assessments at least twice a year at the right time.”
One Massachusetts parent, Katherine DeLorenzo, experienced this gap firsthand. When her son was in kindergarten at Northampton’s Jackson Street Elementary School, she received his screening results tucked into a bundle of documents with no explanation. She didn’t realize until later that he had scored in the 7th percentile—deemed “very low” compared to national averages. The recommended next steps section had been left blank.
Key Takeaways:
1
Screening mandate gaps: Massachusetts required twice-yearly reading screenings for K-3 students in 2023 but has no system to verify schools comply.
2
Legislative solution pending: The Senate's literacy bill includes a reporting requirement that would hold districts accountable; the House version does not.
3
Parent empowerment opportunity: Without oversight, parents may need to proactively ask about screening results and follow-up plans for their children.
What Comes Next
Advocates are now watching closely as a conference committee works to reconcile the Senate and House versions of the bill. The reporting requirement faces potential removal during these negotiations.
Even if the reporting requirement becomes law, some advocates caution that consequences for non-compliance remain unclear. According to Ben Tobin, a board member at the special education advocacy organization SPEDWatch, “Right now, there’s no fleshed out consequence if these schools don’t do these screenings. They’re not losing their license or getting fined.”
What remains clear: when screening data flows to state officials, it creates the possibility for earlier identification—and earlier intervention. For parents who have watched their children struggle while waiting for help, that visibility could be transformative.
Author Quote"
Quote: Getting the screening part down is critical. Because if you’re not screening and diagnosing kids with reading differences, it becomes an impediment to them getting services. Attribution: Senator Sal DiDomenico, Everett Democrat
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Here’s what we know for certain: brains change. Children who receive targeted support early can develop reading skills that serve them for life. The science of neuroplasticity is clear on this point. What we also know is that a system without accountability is a system that often fails the very children it’s designed to protect.
You shouldn’t have to fight bureaucracy to get your child the help they need. The gap between good policy and actual practice is where millions of children lose precious years of development. But here’s the truth: you are your child’s most powerful advocate, and you don’t need permission to pursue what they need.
If you’re ready to stop waiting for a system that wasn’t designed for your child, the Learning Success All Access Program offers a free trial that includes a personalized Action Plan—and you keep that plan even if you decide it’s not the right fit.
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