Administrative Memo

Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education. sent this bulletin at 05/28/2026 03:52 PM CDT

Foundational Reading Assessment Guidance

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has worked collaboratively with each state-approved assessment vendor to develop specific guidance on how to use each assessment to meet the requirements of Section 167.645 and 167.950, RSMo.

Background Information

Per Section 167.645, RSMo., all local education agencies (LEAs) must assess all students enrolled in grades K-3 at the beginning and end of each school year. This includes any newly enrolled student in grades 1-5 for their level of reading-readiness on a state-approved reading assessment. All LEAs must use one of the state-approved assessments to meet this statutory requirement.

In addition, per Section 167.950, RSMo, all school districts and charter schools must screen all students enrolled in grades K-3 for characteristics of dyslexia three times per year. Any student identified as at risk for dyslexia must receive a Reading Success Plan. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, all dyslexia screening and reporting must be completed using the state-approved foundational reading assessment. Dyslexia screening is embedded in each vendor’s assessment and guidance is provided to determine risk.

Guidance documents and the list of state-approved assessments are available on the Literacy webpage.

Testing Windows

LEAs must implement the foundational reading assessment within each designated testing window during the first 30 school days at the beginning of the school year, and within the last 30 school days at the end of the school year. Below are the designated testing windows for the 2026-27 school year:

Testing Window	Start Date-End Date
Beginning-of-Year	Kindergarten: August 24-November 13 Grades 1-3: August 24-October 16
Middle-of-Year	Grades K-3: December 1-January 31
End-of-Year	Grades K-3: April 5-May 28

For more information regarding literacy initiatives, contact Heather Knight, Coordinator of Literacy, at 573-522-5048 or literacy@dese.mo.gov.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, mental or physical disability, or any other basis prohibited by statute in its programs and activities. Inquiries related to department programs and to the location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible by persons with disabilities may be directed to the Jefferson State Office Building, Director of Civil Rights Compliance and MOA Coordinator (Title VI/Title VII/Title IX/504/ADA/ADAAA/Age Act/GINA/USDA Title VI), 7th Floor, 205 Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480; telephone number 573-522-1775 or TTY 800-735-2966; fax number 573-522-4883; email civilrights@dese.mo.gov.

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