Investigation Response
education
Apr 15, 2026
CDE formally found MUSD non-compliant with California's approved screener mandate — after DFP's CPRA investigation placed the district's own records on the public record
Dismal Freedom Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 15, 2026Contact: newsroom@dismalfreedompress.org · (209) 425-2677Dismal Freedom Press is publishing findings from a months-long public records investigation into Manteca Unified School District's use of a non-state-approved reading screener in violation of California Educa…
DFP Editorial Note: This release documents DFP's own investigative findings. Source documents are publicly available at dismalfreedom.press/data.
Investigation Response
education
Jun 2, 2026
The California Department of Education ordered MUSD to re-screen all kindergarten through second grade students with a state-approved instrument by June 1, 2026. DFP can confirm the re-screening was not complete as of May 30.
Dismal Freedom Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 2, 2026Contact: newsroom@dismalfreedompress.orgManteca Unified School District has not confirmed compliance with a CDE order requiring it to re-screen all kindergarten through second-grade students with a state-approved reading instrument before the end of the 2025–26 schoo…
DFP Editorial Note: DFP original reporting. Follow-up to the April 15 MUSD screener investigation.
Investigation Response
education
Jul 7, 2026
Manteca Unified notified parents in June that all kindergarten through second grade students had been re-screened for reading risk — but used ELPAC as its instrument, which does not appear on CDE's approved reading screener list under Ed. Code § 53008
Dismal Freedom Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 7, 2026Contact: newsroom@dismalfreedompress.orgManteca Unified School District notified the California Department of Education in late June that it had completed re-screening of all kindergarten through second grade students for reading risk, satisfying the deadline set in …
DFP Editorial Note: DFP original reporting. Third installment in the MUSD reading screener investigation.