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SDLA Compliance Resource

Screen a New K–2 Enrollee Within 45 Calendar Days When Required

A transfer-aware control that checks prior screening evidence, parent opt-out, kindergarten timing, and the current universal-reading-screening rules before scheduling.

  • K–2 Reading
  • New Enrollee
  • 45 Days
Date(s)Within 45 calendar days after enrollment when the pupil enrolls after the school’s universal screening and no exception applies
Applies toNewly enrolled kindergarten through grade two pupils after the school’s annual universal screening

In Plain Language: Screen within 45 calendar days unless the parent opts out in writing or the pupil has documented results from a similar current-grade screening and the parent has been made aware. For kindergarten risk screening, do not screen before the 91st instructional day.

Why this matters

The 45-day clock prevents transfer students from disappearing between annual windows, while the prior-result check avoids needless duplicate screening.

Joint ownership

Owner: school screening coordinator. Partners: registrar, teacher, parent, records, multilingual staff, and student support.

Operational workflow

  1. 1. Date-stamp enrollment and determine whether the school’s universal screen already occurred.
  2. 2. Request prior current-grade screening results and determine whether they are sufficiently similar under local procedure.
  3. 3. Give the required parent notice and written opt-out instructions in an accessible language/mode.
  4. 4. Screen with the locally adopted approved tool by day 45 when required, then issue results and next steps.

New-enrollee decision

Enrolled after universal screen?
Prior similar current-grade result?
Written opt-out?
Kindergarten day 91 reached?
Screen by applicable deadline

Evidence to retain

  • Enrollment and deadline calculation
  • Prior-record request/result review
  • Parent notice and language access
  • Written opt-out if received
  • Administration and results delivery

Official guidance and help

Source review completed August 30, 2026. Verify current federal and California law, CDE and test-contractor manuals, local board policy, adopted instruments, individual student circumstances, and live system status before acting.