Explain Dibels scores to me…

[Anonymous]

Is there like a percentile or something associated with the composite and individual scores? Besides like the basic “below” or “above” ranges, is there a way to use the number to know how my child ranks comparatively?

[Anonymous]

Like this kind of thing?
https://dibels.uoregon.edu/sites/dibels1.uoregon.edu/files/2023-01/DIBELS%C2%AE%208th%20Edition%20Benchmark%20Goals.pdf

[Anonymous]

DIBELS at the top end is not a particularly useful barometer of where your child "ranks." These are foundational skills that your kid needs to have in order to read well, but having marginally more of them once you're well over the 90% bar doesn't really help you be a better reader. This is especially true because in some categories they will deem that kids have tested out or maxed out, whereas in other categories they don't do that and will just provide a crazy high score. On the flip side, they don't even start testing some skills that younger kids may very well have until later on. As a result, what's being measured each year isn't exactly the full picture of what makes the best reader and reading comprehension isn't weighted in the composite score anywhere near as much as it should be for kids who can read well. That said, it's an excellent screener for foundational skill lapses/LDs.

Once your kid can read well (and is reading to learn vs learning to read), you're much better off looking to RI for actual comprehension measures; most DCPSes start that testing in 2nd grade or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there like a percentile or something associated with the composite and individual scores? Besides like the basic “below” or “above” ranges, is there a way to use the number to know how my child ranks comparatively?

DCPS teacher here. I've never been able to figure out what the composite scores mean specifically, so for that I reference the ranges.

The component scores are more useful. The numbers are either words or letters red correct per minute. The accuracy measures are a percentage. The MAZE measure is also words answered correctly per minute.

[Anonymous]

DIBELS is a universal screener not a norm referenced assessment. It identifies the students who will need the most support in reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DIBELS at the top end is not a particularly useful barometer of where your child "ranks." These are foundational skills that your kid needs to have in order to read well, but having marginally more of them once you're well over the 90% bar doesn't really help you be a better reader. This is especially true because in some categories they will deem that kids have tested out or maxed out, whereas in other categories they don't do that and will just provide a crazy high score. On the flip side, they don't even start testing some skills that younger kids may very well have until later on. As a result, what's being measured each year isn't exactly the full picture of what makes the best reader and reading comprehension isn't weighted in the composite score anywhere near as much as it should be for kids who can read well. That said, it's an excellent screener for foundational skill lapses/LDs.

Once your kid can read well (and is reading to learn vs learning to read), you're much better off looking to RI for actual comprehension measures; most DCPSes start that testing in 2nd grade or so.

This. If your kids is in the “above” section for all/most skills, they’re very solid. Percentage rankings tell you very little because that’s not the point of this particular test. I also personally think the MAZE metric is less helpful than the RI or iReady equivalents. It’s more weirdly prescriptive.