Primary Student Reading Study

Early reading readiness among students in kindergarten through second grade has stagnated, with 34% performing below benchmark, according to Amplify's recent data from mCLASS DIBELS tests. The study, which evaluates 350,000 students across 43 states, shows that while kindergartners maintained last year's levels, proficiency among first- and second-graders slightly declined, particularly in oral reading fluency.  Modan, N. (2026). Progress paused: What end-of-year data reveal about early literacy in grades K–2. Amplify. https://amplify.com/pdf/uploads/2026/06/mCLASS_EOY_Report_072426.pdf