What information is NOT provided by universal screening data?

The correct answer is that universal screening data does not provide information on which specific skills need to be targeted with instruction. Universal screening is a tool used to identify students who may be at risk for academic difficulties, particularly in reading and other foundational skills. While it can highlight which students are performing below expected levels and reveal general trends in performance, it does not drill down into the specifics of which individual skills (like phonemic awareness, decoding, or fluency) require targeted intervention.

Understanding the distinctions made by universal screening is crucial for educators implementing response-to-intervention strategies. Therefore, while it can suggest that a student might need extra support, it does not prescribe the exact areas that need direct instruction, leaving that determination up to more detailed assessments and instructional decisions based on other data.