What should a school psychologist do if a universal screening reveals that 31% of students fall below the reading standard?

When a universal screening reveals that a significant percentage of students, in this case, 31%, fall below the reading standard, it is essential to assess the curriculum's effectiveness. Collaborating with the administrative team to evaluate the current reading curriculum can identify potential gaps or areas for improvement. By focusing on the curriculum, school psychologists can help ensure that it effectively meets all students' needs, facilitating better reading outcomes for a larger group rather than only targeting a fraction of the students.

This approach emphasizes a systems-level perspective, recognizing that widespread deficits in a skill area may indicate a need for alterations to instructional methods, materials, or overall curriculum strategies. Systemic changes can lead to improvements in overall student performance, rather than just addressing the issues of a few students individually, which can be inefficient and may not address the root cause of the lack of student achievement.

Moreover, while options like individualized tutoring or increasing instructional time can be beneficial, they may not address larger systemic issues that, if unaddressed, could continue to affect a significant number of students. Thus, examining the effectiveness of the curriculum represents a proactive strategy aimed at long-term improvement in reading skills across the entire student body.