A Parent’s Guide to the DIBELS Reading Assessment

Reading assessments are essential tools for identifying and addressing reading challenges in children. One assessment known as DIBELS stands out for its effectiveness in gauging early literacy proficiency.

In this article, we explain the DIBELS reading assessment and answer common questions that parents of struggling readers may have.

What is the DIBELS Reading Assessment?

DIBELS is the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills assessment. It’s a widely used reading screener and benchmark assessment designed to evaluate reading skills in children. DIBELS was developed in the 1970s by researchers at the Institute for Research and Learning Disabilities at the University of Minnesota. It became more widely available in 2002 through the University of Oregon. DIBELS is currently in the 8th edition, with the most recent update in 2023.

What Does DIBELS Assess?

DIBELS consists of six different subtests. Each subtest targets a specific literacy skill for a specific age group.

These measures are:

Letter Naming Fluency — assesses knowledge of alphabetical letters (K-1st grade)
Phoneme Segmentation Fluency — evaluates phonemic awareness (K-1st grade)
Nonsense Word Fluency — objectively measures decoding skills (K-3rd grade)
Word Reading Fluency — measures word decoding skills (K-3rd grade)
Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) — assesses reading fluency and accuracy (1st-8th grade)
Maze — measures reading comprehension (2nd-8th grade)

DIBELS plays a crucial role in screening for early reading difficulties, ultimately guiding decisions on who may need additional reading instruction and what types of reading instruction are necessary. Revealing insights into students’ literacy skills, DIBELS helps educators tailor reading interventions to meet individual needs and monitor student progress over time.

What Happens During a DIBELS Assessment?

DIBELS is similar to any other learning assessment in the classroom. Most schools make sure teachers conduct a “benchmark” DIBELS assessment for each child at least 3 times per year to monitor progress. This includes a beginning of year (BOY), middle of year (MOY) and end of year (EOY) assessment. Students receiving additional reading support may have monthly progress monitoring check-ins to see how well they are progressing in their literacy intervention.

Each DIBELS assessment is short. Five of the subtests are one minute in duration and one subtest (Maze) is 3 minutes long. The facilitator (a teacher or reading specialist) explains each exercise one-on-one with the child. They then closely monitor the child’s answers and record the results. The scores are simple, straightforward, and easy for teachers to understand.

DIBELS Scores and Risk Categories

A child’s scores indicate their risk category—that is, how “at risk” they are for struggling to meet expected reading goals.

Negligible Risk: The child shows no risk and is on track or ahead of their reading development.
Minimal Risk: The child shows low risk and is meeting benchmark standards.
Some Risk: The child is showing signs of difficulty with one or more aspects of reading development and should receive “strategic support.”
At Risk: The child is struggling significantly below standard reading development and needs “intensive support.”

Several different factors can contribute to a child’s DIBELS results. It’s important to talk with your child’s teachers, medical professionals, or a reading specialist if they score below the benchmark.

Is DIBELS the Best Reading Test for Kids?

DIBELS isn’t technically a “test” that your child can pass or fail. Rather, it’s an assessment that provides educators and specialists with information about where your child is currently in their reading development.

While there are many reading assessments today, DIBELS is a go-to option that’s used around the world. Since it screens for key areas of reading ability, it’s fairly accurate for parents and families looking to find answers for their child’s reading struggles.

Using DIBELS Assessments for Reading Intervention

The DIBELS assessment is instrumental in spotting reading difficulties early on. Some children need reading intervention to remediate setbacks or literacy struggles.

There are three tiers of reading instruction:

Tier 1 involves the instruction that all students receive as a whole class.
Tier 2 pinpoints specific reading challenges among students and usually involves small-group interventions.
Tier 3 signifies a need for individualized, intensive instruction to address noticeable setbacks.

The DIBELS assessment results inform instructors and parents on the next steps for intervention because it highlights each student’s strengths and areas for improvement. For example, a student struggling with word reading fluency might receive focused practice in decoding skills, leading to significant improvements in reading fluency and comprehension.

What Can Parents Do to Help Struggling Readers?

Depending on your child’s DIBELS scores, there are several ways you can support their reading development.

Literacy Support from Professionals

If your child is on track, continue with the existing reading instruction methods and make sure to provide additional challenges—this will maintain progress.

For kids who need targeted interventions, you can work closely with their teacher to implement recommended strategies to strengthen their identified weaknesses.

If your child needs intensive support, consider turning to an outside tutor, literacy specialist, or reading program that can offer individualized, structured, systematic instruction. The DIBELS assessment is not intended to replace a comprehensive or diagnostic reading assessment.

Reading Development at Home

You can (and should) also support your reader at home.

Read with your child to foster language comprehension and enjoyment of reading.
Use educational tools like flashcards, phonics games, and interactive reading apps to make learning fun and engaging.
Establish a reading routine.
Create a calm, distraction-free reading environment so you and your child can practice together.
Encourage your child to explore a variety of genres to build their interest and skills.

Websites like Phonics.org offer valuable resources and program reviews to help you find effective tools and strategies for at-home literacy practice.

Monitor Your Child’s Progress

Continuous monitoring and support are crucial for your child’s reading progress, especially if they’re at risk. Regularly assess their skills using DIBELS or other assessments to track improvements and identify any new challenges.

Equally as important, communicate with your child’s teacher to ensure that intervention attempts are effective and then adjust strategies as needed. By staying proactive and involved in your child’s reading progress, you help them develop strong literacy skills that will serve them well throughout their academic career and beyond.

Reading and Phonics Support for Parents

By understanding the components and significance of DIBELS, you can actively participate in your child’s educational journey. Whether that involves a reading intervention, addressing a learning disability, or course-correcting the instructional approach, proper assessment and screening are the first steps in advocating for your child’s potential.

For more information and support related to child literacy, explore parent resources at Phonics.org. Let’s empower children to become confident and proficient readers, unlocking a world of knowledge and opportunities for life.