Multitudes: Reading Check for All K–2 Students

Introducing Multitudes

This year, your child will take a new reading check called Multitudes.

Beginning in 2025-2026, California requires all schools to give a short reading check like Multitudes each year in Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade to:

• Find reading needs early
• Provide the right support before challenges grow
• Ensure every child has a fair chance to become a strong reader

We already assess phonics and phonemic awareness three times a year. Multitudes adds even more information, so teachers can better understand your child’s strengths and the kind of support that may help them grow as readers.

Why do we use it?

• To find what your child already knows
• To spot early signs a child may need extra help
• To give support right away so every child can become a confident reader

What does it check?

• Knowing letters and sounds
• Playing with sounds in words (example: “cat” without /c/ is “at”)
• Reading and spelling words
• Quickly naming familiar objects or letters

What happens after?

If your child needs help, we will:

• Give extra checks in sounds and phonics
• Use a research-based phonics program, Phonics to Reading, and our aligned intervention program, Building Reading Success, to provide targeted support
• Provide small-group or one-on-one lessons matched to your child’s needs
• Keep checking progress to make sure the help is working

All families will receive:

• A score showing if your child is on track or may need support
• Simple information about each part of the check
• Ideas for how to help your child at home

Important to Know

• Multitudes does not diagnose or label your child
• Results are for support only
• Families receive results within 45 days
• Parents can opt out in writing to their school principal if they choose

MPUSD’s Commitment to Every Child

Learning to read is one of the most important steps in a child’s life. Our district uses a structured literacy approach that combines:

• Multitudes screening,
• Regular phonics and phonemic awareness checks, 
• Comprehensive reading diagnostic (iReady) assessment 3 times a year, and
• Research-based programs like Phonics to Reading (core phonics instruction) and Building Reading Success (aligned intervention).

Together, these tools ensure that every child gets the instruction and support they need to grow into a confident, capable reader.

We believe every child can learn to read and deserves the support to succeed. Our structured literacy approach helps us keep that promise.