.png){kind=logo}
How do I change the grade level of my student's Universal Screener?
Developmental Levels is a setting you can adjust in the Student Settings portion of the Student Detail screen.
The Universal Screener assessment is designed to identify a student’s readiness for on-grade level instruction. It is typically administered three times per year, though many districts also use it on an ongoing basis as part of an MTSS framework. Universal Screeners are available in Math and Reading/Language Arts and are developed for each grade level, kindergarten through high school.
Assessment Structure and Grade-Level Reach
To accurately identify readiness and learning gaps, the Universal Screener intentionally includes questions from multiple grade levels. This structure provides sufficient “reach” to pinpoint student strengths and weaknesses below the target grade level.
Decisions about assessing students above or below their enrolled grade level typically follow district expectations. Most districts establish clear guidelines that govern when it is appropriate to administer out-of-level assessments, ensuring consistency and appropriate use of data.
This feature should only be used in special circumstances. Administration Details
Each Universal Screener contains 20–35 items and is bookmarked, allowing students to resume the assessment if it is not completed in one sitting. Questions are not randomized, which supports accommodations such as reading items aloud when appropriate.
As a formal assessment, the Universal Screener should always be administered using proper test administration practices to ensure valid and reliable results.
Step-by-Step Guidance
From any screen in Classworks, click on the student's name
Click Student Settings at the top of the student's detail screen
Locate the Developmental Levels section
Check the box in front of the content area (reading or math)
Use the dropdown menu to select the desired grade level
Click Save at the bottom of the screen
Important Considerations
- Follow district or school guidelines about the use of this feature.
- This feature is designed to create a more comfortable testing experience for students who perform significantly below or above their chronological grade level in Mathematics and/or Reading due to developmental difficulties (e.g., special education or gifted).
- If developmental level is used, the student's Universal Screener experience will be based on the grade level you select rather than the student's chronological grade, as is typically the case.