Official Site of The State of New Jersey

To support implementation of the legislation, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) developed and published guidance in the New Jersey Literacy Framework: A Guide to Evidence-Based Literacy Practices & Universal Screeners. This guidance is intended to help school districts develop and implement evidence-based reading instruction and a system of universal screening aimed at creating a strong early literacy program that helps students early, fills in skill gaps, and gives them the support they need to succeed.

When selecting a screener, local education agencies (LEAs) should review the New Jersey Literacy Framework: A Guide to Evidence-Based Literacy Practices & Universal Screeners for the minimum requirements to meet New Jersey’s standards, which include ten criteria along with research-based priority indicators by grade level. LEAs can use Appendix A in the document to review universal literacy screener alignment using these criteria.

LEAs should administer an acceptable and reliable instrument for universal literacy screening that complies with the guidance found in the New Jersey Literacy Framework: A Guide to Evidence-Based Literacy Practices & Universal Screeners. Screeners should be administered in accordance with the assessment vendor’s specifications and recommended timelines.

The NJDOE has established three data collection due dates for the 2026-2027 school year, as follows.