Universal screening for algebra readiness in middle school: Why, what, and does it work?

Abstract

ABSTRACTWithin a multi-tier system of support (MTSS), results from universal screeners help teachers make instructional decisions early in the learning process to prevent and remediate skill gaps. Universal screeners help teachers determine students’ need for and intensity of additional instructional support to reach their learning goals by efficiently providing reliable and trustworthy information. In this article, we describe the value of implementing universal screening assessments in middle school mathematics that focus on algebra readiness. To instantiate a framework for developing and evaluating an algebra-readiness universal screener, we present an example universal screener and discuss the design considerations used to create the assessment system and share a summary of technical adequacy data to document the utility of the results for supporting teachers’ decision making. This example is intended to illustrate the framework to support test developers and administrators who are interested in providing teachers with useful data about students’ readiness for algebra.