DIBELS 8th Edition Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early

Literacy Skills

8th Edition

Composite Score Calculation Guide

Supplement

July 2020

University of Oregon (2020). 8th Edition of Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS®):

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement. Eugene, OR: University of Oregon. Available: https://

dibels.uoregon.edu

Contributing Authors

Gina Biancarosa, Ed. D.

Associate Professor and Ann Swindells Chair in Education

Department of Educational Methodology, Policy, and Leadership

College of Education, University of Oregon

Patrick C. Kennedy, Ph.D.

Research Associate and Director of Data Management and Analysis Group

Center on Teaching & Learning

College of Education, University of Oregon

Sunhi Park

Graduate Research Assistant Fellow

Center on Teaching & Learning

College of Education, University of Oregon

Janet Otterstedt, M.S.

Research Assistant and Project Coordinator

Center on Teaching & Learning

College of Education, University of Oregon

Brian Gearin, M.Ed.

Research Assistant and Project Coordinator

Center on Teaching & Learning

College of Education, University of Oregon

Christopher Ives

Graduate Research Assistant Fellow

Center on Teaching & Learning

College of Education, University of Oregon

Contributing Editors

Maureen Warman, M.S.

Senior Research Assistant I and DIBELS Data System Manager

Center on Teaching & Learning

College of Education, University of Oregon

University of Oregon would also like to acknowledge and thank our partner Amplify

Education for their work on copy editing and formatting.

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Discontinue and Gating Rules Composite Score Calculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Composite Score Calculation Worksheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Table of Contents

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

4 | DIBELS 8th Edition

Introduction

This document supplements the DIBELS 8th Edition Administration and Scoring Guide.

The Administration and Scoring Guide contains in depth information about the DIBELS

8th Edition Composite Score and includes an Appendix with values for all grades K-8.

The Administration and Scoring Guide can be downloaded from the DIBELS Materials

page.

This supplement includes special instructions for use when calculating a composite

score in cases where discontinue and gating rules are utilized. This guide also includes

composite score calculation worksheets that can be used to manually calculate the

composite score.

DIBELS 8th Edition | 5

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

Discontinue and Gating Rules Composite Score Calculation

Special rules apply to calculate the DIBELS 8 composite score when a discontinue or gating

rule has been used and a student has not been administered all available subtests for their

grade. In these cases a constant is used in place of the missing raw scores. The steps are the

same as when calculating a regular composite score with the additional step of substituting

a constant for the missing values. Example calculations are provided after the tables on the

following pages.

Discontinue Rules

There are three discontinue rules that impact calculation of a composite score. In all cases,

when a measure is discontinued a score of zero is given for that measure and the remaining

measures are not administered.

Grade K: Beginning of Year (BOY) - If PSF is discontinued, do not administer NWF and WRF.

Enter zero for PSF. Do not enter scores for the remaining subtests: NWF and WRF.

Grade K: Middle of Year (MOY) - If NWF is discontinued, do not administer WRF. Enter zero for

NWF. Do not enter scores for the remaining subtest: WRF.

Grade 1: Beginning of Year (BOY) - If WRF is discontinued, do not administer ORF. Enter zero

for WRF. Do not enter scores for the remaining subtest: ORF

Gating Rules

There are eight time periods across three grades where a gating rule impacts calculation of a

composite score. In these cases, when a measure is not given because a student's scores are

in the blue negligible risk category on the specied measures, a constant value can be used to

calculate a composite score.

Grade 1: Middle of Year (MOY) and End of Year (EOY) - If the student scores in the blue range

on NWF-CLS, then you do not have to administer LNF or PSF. Leave those scores blank if not

administered.

Grade 2 and 3: Beginning of Year (BOY), Middle of Year (MOY), and End of Year (EOY) - If the

student scores in the blue range on ORF-WRC, then you do not have to administer NWF or

WRF. Leave those scores blank if not administered. Always give Maze.

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

6 | DIBELS 8th Edition

Apply the following steps, in order:

1. For each subtest raw score, multiply the student’s raw score by the Weight listed in the table

on the next page, rounding the result to the 100ths place.

If a student does not have a subtest raw score due to the Discontinue or Gating

Rules, use the constant from the table below for the missing subtest scores.

2. Sum the resulting weighted scores across all applicable subtests.

3. From that sum, subtract the Mean for the appropriate grade from the table on the next page.

4. Divide the result by the standard deviation (SD) for the appropriate grade in the table on the

next page and round to the 100ths place.

5. Multiply the result by 40 and round to the ones place.

6. Add the scaling constant corresponding to the grade and season in which the student was

tested from the table on the next page. The result is the composite score.

Note that ORF Accuracy should be represented in these calculations as a proportion of words

correct (e.g., .99), rather than percent correct (e.g., 99).

Composite score constants for use when discontinuing or gating benchmarking

Grade Time Period LNF PSF

NWF

CLS

NWF

WRC

WRF

ORF

WRC

ORF

ACC

Discontinue

Kindergarten

BOY (fall) 0 0 0

MOY (winter) 0

First BOY (fall) 0 0

Gating

First

MOY (winter)

66 56

EOY (spring)

68 60

Second

BOY (fall)

85 24 49

MOY (winter)

102 35 62

EOY (spring)

116 38 69

Third

BOY (fall)

120 33 59

MOY (winter)

137 45 64

EOY (spring)

140 44 69

DIBELS 8th Edition | 7

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

Composite Score Calculation Values K-3

Grade Subtest score Weight Mean SD

Fall

constant

Winter

constant

Spring

constant

Kindergarten

LNF BOY 35.44 729 630 289 364 398

LNF MOY/EOY 8.86

PSF 4.13

NWF-CLS 14.93

NWF-WRC 3.56

WRF 5.62

First

LNF 10.72 3371 2251 360 400 440

PSF 2.13

NWF-CLS 23.13

NWF-WRC 7.79

WRF 13.51

ORF-WRC 25.36

ORF-ACC 0.25

Second

NWF-CLS 32.74 7085 3811 360 400 440

NWF-WRC 10.95

WRF 21.26

ORF-WRC 35.36

ORF-ACC 0.15

MAZE 4.28

Third

NWF-CLS 40.02 10051 4349 360 400 440

NWF-WRC 11.80

WRF 19.83

ORF-WRC 39.42

ORF-ACC 0.09

MAZE 4.79

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

8 | DIBELS 8th Edition

Discontinue Example

For a kindergarten student with Beginning of Year (BOY/fall) DIBELS 8 scores of 10 for LNF, 0

for PSF, and no scores for NWF-CLS, NWF-WRC, or WRF due to the discontinue rule, we would

calculate this student’s composite score as follows.

Step 1: Multiply each subtest raw score by the corresponding weight listed in the table. Use a

zero for the missing subtest/s score/s.

Subtest score Raw score Weight Weight score

LNF 10.00 * 35.44 = 354.40

PSF 0.00 * 4.13 = 0.00

NWF-CLS 0 * 14.93 = 0.00

NWF-WRC 0 * 3.56 = 0.00

WRF 0 * 5.62 = 0.00

Step 2: Sum the resulting weighted scores across all applicable subtests:

354.40 + 0.00 + 0.00 + 0.00 + 0.00 = 354.40

Step 3: Subtract from that sum the mean of the weighted scores for the appropriate grade:

354.40 – 729 = -374.60

Step 4: Divide that value by the standard deviation for the appropriate grade:

-374.60 / 630 = -0.59

Step 5: Multiply that score by 40 and round to the ones place:

-0.59 * 40 = -24

Step 6: Add the scaling constant corresponding to the season in which the student was tested

to obtain the nal composite score:

-24 + 289 = 265

DIBELS 8th Edition | 9

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

Gating Example

For a second grade student with Beginning of Year (BOY/fall) DIBELS 8 scores of 93 for ORF-

WRC, 0.99 (99%) ORF-ACC, 11.5 for Maze Adjusted, and no scores for NWF-CLS, NWF-WRC,

or WRF due to the gating rule, we would calculate this student’s composite score as follows.

Step 1: Multiply each subtest raw score by the corresponding weight listed in the table. Use

the constant values for the missing subtest/s score/s.

Subtest score Raw score Weight Weight score

NWF-CLS

* 32.74

= 2782.90

NWF-WRC

* 10.95

= 262.80

WRF

* 21.26

= 1041.74

ORF-WRC 93.00 * 35.36 = 3288.48

ORF-ACC 0.99 * 0.15 = 0.15

Maze 11.50 * 4.28 = 49.22

Step 2: Sum the resulting weighted scores across all applicable subtests:

2782.90 + 262.80 + 1041.74 + 3288.48 + 0.15 + 49.22 = 7425.29

Step 3: Subtract from that sum the mean of the weighted scores for the appropriate grade:

7425.29 – 7085 = 340.29

Step 4: Divide that value by the standard deviation for the appropriate grade:

340.29 / 3811 = 0.09

Step 5: Multiply that score by 40 and round to the ones place:

0.09 * 40 = 4

Step 6: Add the scaling constant corresponding to the season in which the student was tested

to obtain the nal composite score:

4 + 360 = 364

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

10 | DIBELS 8th Edition

Composite Score Calculation

Worksheets

DIBELS 8th Edition | 11

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

DIBELS 8th Edition Composite Score Calculation Worksheet

Kindergarten

Step 1. Multiply each subtest raw score by the weight listed.

Subtest Raw score Weight Weighted score

LNF

_________

x 35.44 if Beginning of year

x 8.86 if Middle or End of year

= ____________

PSF

_________

x 4.13

= ____________

NWF-CLS

_________

x 14.93

= ____________

NWF-WRC

_________

x 3.56

= ____________

WRF

_________

x 5.62

= ____________

Step 2. Sum the weighted scores from Step 1. Total = _______________

Step 3. Subtract the mean of the weighted score from the sum of the weighted scores.

___________________ - 729 = ___________________

(Total from Step 2)

Step 4. Divide value from Step 3 by standard deviation.

___________________ ÷ 630 = ___________________

(Value from Step 3)

Step 5. Multiply value from Step 4 by 40 and round to the ones place.

___________________ x 40 = ____________________(round to ones place)

(Value from Step 4)

Step 6. Add the scaling constant for the season in which the student was tested to obtain the

nal composite score.

Constants: Fall/Beginning = 289, Winter/Middle = 364, Spring/End = 398.

_________________ + ___________________ = _______________________

(Value from Step 5) (constant) (nal composite score)

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

12 | DIBELS 8th Edition

DIBELS 8th Edition Composite Score Calculation Worksheet

First Grade

Step 1. Multiply each subtest raw score by the weight listed.

Subtest Raw score Weight Weighted score

LNF

_________

x 10.72

= ____________

PSF

_________

x 2.13

= ____________

NWF-CLS

_________

x 23.13

= ____________

NWF-WRC

_________

x 7.79

= ____________

WRF

_________

x 13.51

= ____________

ORF-WRC

_________

x 25.36

= ____________

ORF-ACC

_________

x 0.25

= ____________

Step 2. Sum the weighted scores from Step 1. Total = _______________

Step 3. Subtract the mean of the weighted score from the sum of the weighted scores.

___________________ - 3371 = ___________________

(Total from Step 2)

Step 4. Divide value from Step 3 by standard deviation.

___________________ ÷ 2251 = ___________________

(Value from Step 3)

Step 5. Multiply value from Step 4 by 40 and round to the ones place.

___________________ x 40 = ____________________(round to ones place)

(Value from Step 4)

Step 6. Add the scaling constant for the season in which the student was tested to obtain the

nal composite score.

Constants: Fall/Beginning = 360, Winter/Middle = 400, Spring/End = 440.

___________________ + ___________________ = _______________________

(Value from Step 5) (constant) (nal composite score)

DIBELS 8th Edition | 13

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

DIBELS 8th Edition Composite Score Calculation Worksheet

Second Grade

Step 1. Multiply each subtest raw score by the weight listed.

Subtest Raw score Weight Weighted score

NWF-CLS

_________

x 32.74

= ____________

NWF-WRC

_________

x 10.95

= ____________

WRF

_________

x 21.26

= ____________

ORF-WRC

_________

x 35.36

= ____________

ORF-ACC

_________

x 0.15

= ____________

Maze

_________

x 4.28

= ____________

Step 2. Sum the weighted scores from Step 1. Total = _______________

Step 3. Subtract the mean of the weighted score from the sum of the weighted scores.

___________________ - 7085 = ___________________

(Total from Step 2)

Step 4. Divide value from Step 3 by standard deviation.

___________________ ÷ 3811 = ___________________

(Value from Step 3)

Step 5. Multiply value from Step 4 by 40 and round to the ones place.

___________________ x 40 = ____________________(round to ones place)

(Value from Step 4)

Step 6. Add the scaling constant for the season in which the student was tested to obtain the

nal composite score.

Constants: Fall/Beginning = 360, Winter/Middle = 400, Spring/End = 440.

___________________ + ___________________ = _______________________

(Value from Step 5) (constant) (nal composite score)

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

14 | DIBELS 8th Edition

DIBELS 8th Edition Composite Score Calculation Worksheet

Third Grade

Step 1. Multiply each subtest raw score by the weight listed.

Subtest Raw score Weight Weighted score

NWF-CLS

_________

x 40.02

= ____________

NWF-WRC

_________

x 11.80

= ____________

WRF

_________

x 19.83

= ____________

ORF-WRC

_________

x 39.42

= ____________

ORF-ACC

_________

x 0.09

= ____________

Maze

_________

x 4.79

= ____________

Step 2. Sum the weighted scores from Step 1. Total = _______________

Step 3. Subtract the mean of the weighted score from the sum of the weighted scores.

___________________ - 10051 = ___________________

(Total from Step 2)

Step 4. Divide value from Step 3 by standard deviation.

___________________ ÷ 4349 = ___________________

(Value from Step 3)

Step 5. Multiply value from Step 4 by 40 and round to the ones place.

___________________ x 40 = ____________________(round to ones place)

(Value from Step 4)

Step 6. Add the scaling constant for the season in which the student was tested to obtain the

nal composite score.

Constants: Fall/Beginning = 360, Winter/Middle = 400, Spring/End = 440.

___________________ + ___________________ = _______________________

(Value from Step 5) (constant) (nal composite score)

DIBELS 8th Edition | 15

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

DIBELS 8th Edition Composite Score Calculation Worksheet

Fourth Grade

Step 1. Multiply each subtest raw score by the weight listed.

Subtest Raw score Weight Weighted score

ORF-WRC

_________

x 36.42

= ____________

ORF-ACC

_________

x 0.06

= ____________

Maze

_________

x 6.29

= ____________

Step 2. Sum the weighted scores from Step 1. Total = _______________

Step 3. Subtract the mean of the weighted score from the sum of the weighted scores.

___________________ - 4563 = ___________________

(Total from Step 2)

Step 4. Divide value from Step 3 by standard deviation.

___________________ ÷ 1771 = ___________________

(Value from Step 3)

Step 5. Multiply value from Step 4 by 40 and round to the ones place.

___________________ x 40 = ____________________(round to ones place)

(Value from Step 4)

Step 6. Add the scaling constant for the season in which the student was tested to obtain the

nal composite score.

Constants: Fall/Beginning = 360, Winter/Middle = 400, Spring/End = 440.

___________________ + ___________________ = _______________________

(Value from Step 5) (constant) (nal composite score)

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

16 | DIBELS 8th Edition

DIBELS 8th Edition Composite Score Calculation Worksheet

Fifth Grade

Step 1. Multiply each subtest raw score by the weight listed.

Subtest Raw score Weight Weighted score

ORF-WRC

_________

x 31.12

= ____________

ORF-ACC

_________

x 0.03

= ____________

Maze

_________

x 4.58

= ____________

Step 2. Sum the weighted scores from Step 1. Total = _______________

Step 3. Subtract the mean of the weighted score from the sum of the weighted scores.

___________________ - 4085 = ___________________

(Total from Step 2)

Step 4. Divide value from Step 3 by standard deviation.

___________________ ÷ 1299 = ___________________

(Value from Step 3)

Step 5. Multiply value from Step 4 by 40 and round to the ones place.

___________________ x 40 = ____________________(round to ones place)

(Value from Step 4)

Step 6. Add the scaling constant for the season in which the student was tested to obtain the

nal composite score.

Constants: Fall/Beginning = 360, Winter/Middle = 400, Spring/End = 440.

___________________ + ___________________ = _______________________

(Value from Step 5) (constant) (nal composite score)

DIBELS 8th Edition | 17

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

DIBELS 8th Edition Composite Score Calculation Worksheet

Sixth Grade

Step 1. Multiply each subtest raw score by the weight listed.

Subtest Raw score Weight Weighted score

ORF-WRC

_________

x 40.71

= ____________

ORF-ACC

_________

x 0.05

= ____________

Maze

_________

x 5.03

= ____________

Step 2. Sum the weighted scores from Step 1. Total = _______________

Step 3. Subtract the mean of the weighted score from the sum of the weighted scores.

___________________ - 6087 = ___________________

(Total from Step 2)

Step 4. Divide value from Step 3 by standard deviation.

___________________ ÷ 1685 = ___________________

(Value from Step 3)

Step 5. Multiply value from Step 4 by 40 and round to the ones place.

___________________ x 40 = ____________________(round to ones place)

(Value from Step 4)

Step 6. Add the scaling constant for the season in which the student was tested to obtain the

nal composite score.

Constants: Fall/Beginning = 360, Winter/Middle = 400, Spring/End = 440.

___________________ + ___________________ = _______________________

(Value from Step 5) (constant) (nal composite score)

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

18 | DIBELS 8th Edition

DIBELS 8th Edition Composite Score Calculation Worksheet

Seventh Grade

Step 1. Multiply each subtest raw score by the weight listed.

Subtest Raw score Weight Weighted score

ORF-WRC

_________

x 40.55

= ____________

ORF-ACC

_________

x 0.06

= ____________

Maze

_________

x 7.34

= ____________

Step 2. Sum the weighted scores from Step 1. Total = _______________

Step 3. Subtract the mean of the weighted score from the sum of the weighted scores.

___________________ - 6444 = ___________________

(Total from Step 2)

Step 4. Divide value from Step 3 by standard deviation.

___________________ ÷ 1960 = ___________________

(Value from Step 3)

Step 5. Multiply value from Step 4 by 40 and round to the ones place.

___________________ x 40 = ____________________(round to ones place)

(Value from Step 4)

Step 6. Add the scaling constant for the season in which the student was tested to obtain the

nal composite score.

Constants: Fall/Beginning = 360, Winter/Middle = 400, Spring/End = 440.

___________________ + ___________________ = _______________________

(Value from Step 5) (constant) (nal composite score)

DIBELS 8th Edition | 19

Composite Score Calculation Guide Supplement

DIBELS 8th Edition Composite Score Calculation Worksheet

Eighth Grade

Step 1. Multiply each subtest raw score by the weight listed.

Subtest Raw score Weight Weighted score

ORF-WRC

_________

x 37.69

= ____________

ORF-ACC

_________

x 0.03

= ____________

Maze

_________

x 6.75

= ____________

Step 2. Sum the weighted scores from Step 1. Total = _______________

Step 3. Subtract the mean of the weighted score from the sum of the weighted scores.

___________________ - 4824 = ___________________

(Total from Step 2)

Step 4. Divide value from Step 3 by standard deviation.

___________________ ÷ 1506 = ___________________

(Value from Step 3)

Step 5. Multiply value from Step 4 by 40 and round to the ones place.

___________________ x 40 = ____________________(round to ones place)

(Value from Step 4)

Step 6. Add the scaling constant for the season in which the student was tested to obtain the

nal composite score.

Constants: Fall/Beginning = 360, Winter/Middle = 400, Spring/End = 440.

___________________ + ___________________ = _______________________

(Value from Step 5) (constant) (nal composite score)