Advancing MTSS in Catalonia: Design of a Universal Literacy Screening Tool for Primary Education

Abstract Book of the 10th International Conference on New Trends in Teaching and Education

Year: 2026

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Advancing MTSS in Catalonia: Design of a Universal Literacy Screening Tool for Primary Education

Clàudia Roca Hoogsteder, Marta Sanz, Cristina Cano, Víctor Vílchez, Aina Pujol, Cristina Benlloch, Sara Montore, Llorenç Andreu – Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Spain

ABSTRACT:

This study details the design, development, and piloting of a universal screening tool for literacy in Catalan-speaking children (Grades 1–4) within a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework. Addressing the “wait-to-fail” model, the research focuses on the early identification of students at risk of reading difficulties through a curriculum-aligned, evidence-based instrument. The development followed sequential phases: a conceptualization stage involving a systematic review of existing literature and expert judgment, followed by two pilot studies to refine the tool’s psychometric properties. The final assessment covers essential domains, including phonological awareness, alphabetic code knowledge, lexical processes, reading fluency, reading and oral comprehension, and orthographic processes. Results from the second pilot study demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha values indicating high reliability across most subscales. While the tool showed robust performance in comprehension and lexical access, specific refinements were identified for orthographic tasks. This tool, which will be digitized, provides a valid, efficient, and up-to-date resource for early literacy screening in the Catalan educational context.

Keywords: Catalan; Early identification; Assessment; Reading; Psychometric properties