Beginning in the 2025–26 school year, California law requires all K–2 students to be screened for reading difficulties using a state-approved screener.
Amira For California
California’s Unified K–8 Reading Suite
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One Reading Suite for Compliance, Coherence, and Growth
Mandatory Screening
The only preK–8 screener unanimously approved for English and Spanish.
Learning Agent for Reading Growth
Amira unifies assessment, instruction, and tutoring in one Reading Suite, proven to accelerate reading growth.
Coherent Suite
The Amira Reading Suite directly connects to your curriculum, scope and sequence, and instructional calendar.
Accessible for Every Student
Built on UDL principles with WCAG 2.0 compliance, paper and braille options, and full 504 support.
Beyond Screening: A Complete Reading Suite
Curriculum Coherence
Syncs with your curriculum for consistency across classrooms.
Accurate Screening
Screens a whole class in 20 minutes by listening to students read aloud.
Tutor for Every Student
Guides each student through individualized practice in English and Spanish.
Instructional Assistant for Every Teacher
Generates real-time, curriculum-aligned lesson plans and recommendations.
See Amira in Action
Trusted by California Districts
Amira has received the highest ratings from NCII and has been approved by State Education Agencies nationwide.
With Amira, I can see in real time the areas where my students are struggling and immediately address them. The data is powerful for guiding instruction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does EC 53008 require?
Which screener is approved?
Amira is the only K–8 screener unanimously approved in both English and Spanish, meeting all requirements of EC 53008.
Is funding available for California districts?
Yes. $40 million in one-time Proposition 98 General Fund in 2025-26 to cover essential costs—such as purchasing screening materials and providing educator training—for the administration of literacy screenings. The 2023 Budget required LEAs to begin screening students in kindergarten through second grade for risk of reading difficulties, including dyslexia, by the 2025-26 school year. To support this effort, the 2024 Budget Act provided an additional $25 million in one-time Proposition 98 funds.
How much support will each district receive?
Districts receive $21.16 per K–2 student to help cover training and implementation.
Is Amira state-funded?
Yes. Amira is fully covered through the state’s per-student allocation, so districts can implement Amira’s screener at no additional local cost.
How long does screening take?
Amira can screen an entire class in under 20 minutes.
Do teachers need to proctor or score?
No. Amira uses AI to proctor and score automatically, freeing teachers to focus on instruction.
How quickly can districts get started?
Very quickly. Teachers need only 45 minutes of training before beginning screening.
The Amira Reading Suite
Is Amira only a screener?
No. Amira is a complete K–8 Reading Suite that unifies assessment, instruction, and tutoring into one coherent learning cycle.
Can Amira be used beyond grades K–2?
Yes. Amira supports students from K to 8 with screening, identification of dyslexia risk, progress monitoring, instruction, and tutoring.
Does Amira work in both English and Spanish?
Yes. Amira is the only unanimously approved screener that supports both English and Spanish. The entire Reading Suite (Assess, Instruct, Tutor) is fully bilingual by design for dual-language and multilingual learners.
Is Amira aligned to California standards?
Yes. Amira delivers data directly aligned to California’s literacy standards, helping teachers make informed instructional decisions.
Get Started with Amira
Sign up today to learn how your district can meet EC 53008 requirements with California’s state-funded K–2 screener and learn more about the power of the full Amira Reading Suite.
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