FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
JOHN L. WINN
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLOWAY
JULIA L. JOHNSON
ROBERTO MARTINEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
LINDA K. TAYLOR
November 22, 2005
TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
John L. Winn
SUBJECT:
Results of 2005 Administration – School Readiness Uniform Screening System (SRUSS)
Consistent with the Department of Education’s strategic imperative to improve student rates of learning,
we are pleased to provide you with the results of the 2005 School Readiness Uniform Screening System
(SRUSS). This information represents the outcome of the fourth year of implementation of this screening
system. Sections 411.01 and 1008.21, Florida Statutes (F.S.), require that the Department of Education
implement a statewide system of developmental screening for all children entering public school
kindergarten for the first time. This was accomplished through the administration of the
Early Screening
Inventory-Kindergarten (ESI-K)
and the
Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS)
to
all of Florida’s kindergarten children.
READINESS CATEGORIES USED FOR REPORTING
The results of the
ESI-K
were calculated by using the ratings teachers assigned to 19 activities performed
by the children screened. Scores are reported in the following readiness categories:
Ready Now
- the development and abilities of these children were within the range of what is
expected for this age group
Getting Ready
- the results of the screening were inconclusive; there may have been other factors
that influenced the student’s performance on the day of screening
Not Ready Yet
- age appropriate development was not evidenced during the screening
The results of the
DIBELS
are based on two measures of the instrument that were administered by local
school staff. Scores were calculated based on kindergarten students’ performance on
Initial Sound
s
Fluency (ISF)
and
Letter Naming Fluency (LNF).
Scores for both
measures are reported in the following
categories:
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
District School Superintendents
November 22, 2005
Page 2
Above Average
- the child’s performance was at or above the 60
th
percentile
Low Risk
- the child’s performance was at grade level
Moderate Risk
- the child’s performance was moderately below grade level and additional
intervention is needed
High Risk -
the child’s performance was seriously below grade level and substantial intervention is
needed
2005-06 RESULTS OF THE
ESI-K
For the kindergarten children with valid results on the
ESI-K
(181,742), teacher ratings indicated the
following:
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82 percent were considered “Ready Now.”
This means that the development and abilities of these
children were within the range of what was expected for this age group.
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13 percent were considered to be “Getting Ready.”
This m
eans that the results of the screening
were inconclusive and that there may have been other factors that influenced the child’s performance
on the day of screening. Some schools and districts may have elected to re-screen these children at a
later date. (Re-screening results are not reported to the state.)
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5 percent were considered “Not Ready Yet.”
This means that age-appropriate development was
not evidenced during the screening.
These findings are important for establishing baseline information about students upon their entry into
kindergarten. Figure 1 illustrates the 2005-06 results.
Figure 1
2005-06
Florida School Readiness Uniform Screening System Results
ESI-K: Students with Valid Scores
(N=181,742)
82%
13%
5%
Ready Now
Getting Ready
Not Ready Yet
Below is a summary of the ESI-K results from 2002-03 to 2005-06. The data show a steady increase in
the total number of valid scores.
District School Superintendents
November 22, 2005
Page 3
Figure 2
Summary of ESI-K Status
2002-03 2003-04
2004-05* 2005-06
Total Scored
157,939
169,972
175,806
181,742
Ready
Now
130,089 82.37% 142,046 83.57% 147,134 83.69% 149,589 82.31%
Getting
Ready 20,334
12.87% 20,627
12.14% 20,722
11.79% 22,925
12.61%
Not Ready
7,516
4.76%
7,299
4.29%
7,950
4.52%
9,228
5.08%
*Rounding not equal 100%
2005-05 Results of the
DIBELS
For the kindergarten children with valid results on the
DIBELS
(178,953), the following scores were
attained on the two measures. This is the second year of available
DIBELS
data on a statewide basis.
Letter Naming Fluency
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50% were considered “Above Average.”
This means that these children scored at or above the 60
th
percentile.
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14% were considered “Low Risk.”
This means that these children scored at grade level.
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16% were considered “Moderate Risk.”
This means that these children scored below grade level
and are in need of additional intervention.
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19% were considered “High Risk.”
This means that these children scored seriously below grade
level and are in need of substantial intervention.
Figure 3
2005-06
Florida School Readiness Uniform Screening System Results
DIBELS Letter Naming Fluency: Students with Valid Scores
(N = 178,953)
50%
14%
16%
19%
Above Average
Low Risk
Moderate Risk
High Risk
District School Superintendents
November 22, 2005
Page 4
Below is a summary of the DIBELS Letter Naming Fluency results for the past two years.
Figure 4
Letter Naming Fluency Status Summary
2004
2005
Total Participants
175,023
178,953
Above Average
84,550
48.31%
89,229
49.86%
Low Risk
26,550
15.17%
25,930
14.49%
Moderate Risk
29,359
16.77%
29,150
16.29%
High Risk
34,564
19.75%
34,644
19.36%
Initial Sounds Fluency
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41% were considered “Above Average.”
This means that these children scored at or above the 60
th
percentile.
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20% were considered “Low Risk.”
This means that these children scored at grade level.
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20% were considered “Moderate Risk.”
This means that these children scored below grade level
and are in need of additional intervention.
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20% were considered “High Risk.”
This means that these children scored seriously below grade
level and are in need of substantial intervention.
Figure 5
2005-06
Florida School Readiness Uniform Screening System Results
2005 DIBELS Initial Sounds Fluency: Students with Valid Scores
(N = 172,901)
41%
20%
20%
20%
Above Average
Low Risk
Moderate Risk
High Risk
District School Superintendents
November 22, 2005
Page 5
Below is a summary of the
DIBELS Initial Sounds Fluency
results for the past two years.
Figure 6
Initial Sounds Fluency Status Summary
2004 2005
Total Participants
174,913
172,901
Above Average
68,297
39.05%
70,167
40.58%
Low Risk
33,564
19.19%
33,836
19.57%
Moderate Risk
34,992
20.01%
33,815
19.56%
High Risk
38,060
21.76%
35,083
20.29%
Scannable response sheets were received for 198,148 kindergarten students. This represents 98% of the
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203,056 kindergarten students in membership during the Fall 2005 FTE reporting period. In addition to
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the results of the screening, teachers provided a reason when a child could not be screened. The
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Department uses this information to track the status of as many children as possible. Screening is not
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valid or appropriate if:
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The child began school after the 30th day of school.
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The child was retained from the previous year.
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The child has limited English proficiency.
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The child has significant disabilities.
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Valid scores could not be determined because of coding or gridding problems.
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DISTRICT REPORT OF SCHOOL RESULTS
School districts have received copies of the
District Report of School Results
directly from the
Department of Education’s contractor. These data may be used in the development of local School
Improvement Plans.
Copies of the
District Report of School Results
will also be provided to the Office of Early Learning,
Agency for Workforce Innovation, the Florida Center for Reading Research, the
Just Read, Florida!
Office, and the contact persons for the local Early Learning Coalitions. The Department of Education
will be using these data for additional analysis.
If you have additional questions regarding the School Readiness Uniform Screening System, please
contact Dr. Martha Haynes, 850/245-9560, or via email at martha.haynes@fldoe.org; or Victoria Ash,
850/245-0513, or via email at victoria.ash@fldoe.org.
We appreciate your support, collaboration, and ongoing commitment to young children and their families.
JLW/
cc:
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District Coordinators of Assessment
Chairpersons and Directors of Early Learning Coalitions
Susan Pareigis, Director, Agency for Workforce Innovation
Gladys Wilson, Deputy Director, Office of Early Learning, Agency for Workforce Innovation
