10.54.901    EVALUATION METHODOLOGY FOR EARLY LITERACY TARGETED INTERVENTIONS

(1)  The local board of trustees shall adopt and ensure use of an evaluation methodology to identify, enroll, and admit children to early literacy targeted interventions.  The evaluation methodology used must be overseen by and include application of professional judgment of qualified employees.  A child may not be evaluated for the purposes of these interventions unless requested by the child's parent or guardian.  The district must maintain evidence of the request.  The evaluation methodology may be administered in April, May, or June, and must assess at least one of the following literacy skills: 

(a) For four-year-olds:

(i) oral language;

(ii) phonological awareness;

(iii) alphabet knowledge.

(b) Prior to kindergarten:

(i) oral language;

(ii) phonological awareness;

(iii) alphabet knowledge.

(c) Prior to first grade:

(i) phoneme awareness;

(ii) listening comprehension;

(iii) developmental spelling;

(iv) vocabulary (expressive or receptive);

(v) word reading (nonsense or real);

(vi) reading composite.

(d) Prior to second grade:

(i) listening comprehension;

(ii) developmental spelling;

(iii) vocabulary (expressive or receptive);

(iv) word reading (nonsense or real);

(v) connected text reading fluency;

(vi) connected text accuracy;

(vii) reading composite.

(e) Prior to third grade:

(i) developmental spelling;

(ii) vocabulary (expressive or receptive);

(iii) word reading (nonsense or real);

(iv) connected text reading fluency;

(v) connected text accuracy;

(vi) reading comprehension;

(vii) reading composite.

(2)  The list of approved evaluation methodology screening tools must be reviewed in odd years through a process of review complying with the provisions of Title 2, chapter 3, MCA, to ensure continuous adherence to developmentally appropriate and research-based screening tool requirements.  Any changes to the list must be published and made publicly available by the Board of Public Education no later than 30 days after adoption of any changes.  The removal of an evaluation methodology screening tool shall not be effective until July 1 following such removal.

(3) A local board of trustees adopting and using one of the approved evaluation methodology screening tools shall be construed to have complied with this rule.

(a) Use of one of the approved evaluation methodology screening tools shall not, however, be required, provided that the district's adopted evaluation methodology screening tool conforms to the requirements of (1).

(4) For the purposes of this rule, "evaluation methodology" means an age-appropriate research-based methodology, instrument, or assessment selected by the Board of Public Education to determine, based on a child's age or grade level, whether the child is above, at, or below a developmental trajectory leading to reading proficiency on completion of third grade.

History: Mont. Const. Art. X, sec. 9, 20-2-114, 20-7-1803, MCA; IMP, Mont. Const. Art. X, sec. 9, 20-7-1803, MCA; NEW, 2024 MAR p. 721, Eff. 4/13/24.