As schools begin planning for the upcoming year, we want to share some exciting updates to the EarlyBird platform that will be available for the 2024-25 school year. 

The EarlyBird platform—now featuring 2nd grade

 

The EarlyBird platform now includes comprehensive early literacy assessment and dyslexia screening for all students PreK-2nd grade, with 3rd grade available for the 2025-26 school year. We’ve brought in new subtests, educator resources, and—of course—animal friends to ensure educators have a full view of a child’s reading progress.

 

Subtests that reflect the Science of Reading

We’ve added brand new developmentally appropriate subtests, including Non-Word Spelling and Expressive Vocabulary, which is now available for early users.

Supplemental printable materials for assessing Oral Reading Fluency, Reading Comprehension, and progress monitoring will be available within the Next Steps resource platform for use during the upcoming school year.

 

Assessing during the ideal window for intervention

The science is clear: early intervention matters. EarlyBird’s expansion to 2nd grade (and planned addition of 3rd grade for the 2025-26 school year) ensures we’re assessing our pre- and early readers in time to prevent future reading struggles like dyslexia.

👉 EarlyBird Partners: Try out the 2nd Grade EOY gameboard

From March 27-June 30, 2024, current EarlyBird partners will have complimentary access to an EOY gameboard. You will be able to use the gameboard with students or create a test student account to try the new second grade subtests yourself. Reach out to support@earlybirded.wpenginepowered.com with any questions.

AVAILABLE NOWAvailable for the 2024-25 school year

Supplemental printable assessments

In addition to the new subtests available within the standard second grade gameboard, partners will find valuable supplemental tools in the Next Steps resources portal, including printable subtests for Oral Language Fluency and Reading Comprehension. Progress monitoring materials are also available for educators—aligned to EarlyBird and ready to print.

COMING SOONAvailable for the 2024-25 school year

Rostering & SSO tools

We know ease of access is critical for schools. Beginning in 2024-25, EarlyBird will support direct rostering with PowerSchool and ClassLink. Additionally—to simplify the login process, the platform will offer SSO with Clever, ClassLink, Microsoft, and Google.

Partner Support & Resources

AVAILABLE NOWContact your CSM

Partner Impact Reports

As self-proclaimed assessment nerds, we know the importance of tracking the impact of your work. This year, our Customer Success team launched new personalized Impact Reports for EarlyBird partners that help consolidate your goals and wins in one place. Compare results by subtests during BOY, MOY, and EOY assessment windows to identify areas of instructional need.

To get your personalized report, reach out to your Customer Success Manager Faustino Nunez or Tramaine Hopkins.

 

AVAILABLE NOWAvailable for the 2024-25 school year

Expanded Professional Learning Workshop Options

Available for the 2024-25 school year, the Learning Support team is expanding our professional learning options based on your feedback.

For first-year partners, the EarlyBird New User Series helps build team buy-in by grounding implementation in an understanding of assessment and what the science tells us about early detection and prevention. We’ll then lead your team through the EarlyBird assessment, teacher dashboard, and the Next Steps Resources platform and do deep dives into what is being assessed at each grade level. In short, the New User Series will give your teams the information they need to see success in year one. 

For returning partners, we’ve built in more options for choice: you will now be able to customize your hour-long Benchmark Period Workshop into two separate 30-minute segments: 1) the dashboard & data review, and 2) a professional learning session of your choosing. Partners will select from a menu of options including: Instructional Strategy segments aligned to EarlyBird subtests, a Science of Reading introductory series, Progress Monitoring and MTSS, the Five Reading Components series, and more. 

Check out the list of professional learning sessions here.

AVAILABLE NOWAvailable for the 2024-25 school year

Expanded Literacy Specialist Support

Current partners can access an EarlyBird literacy specialist on-demand during Office Hours every Tuesday from 2:30pm-3:30pm ET and Friday from 8:30am-9:30 am ET. Partners will also have the ability to purchase additional time with a literacy specialist who supports the region to review dashboard data.

 

Ready to use EarlyBird for the 2024-25 school year?

EarlyBird is the most science-based early literacy assessment on the market—built to help school districts prevent dyslexia through gameplay.