Which of the following is a characteristic of universal screening?

Universal screening is a process used to identify students who may be at risk for academic difficulties, particularly in reading. The purpose of universal screening is to assess all students within a given population, allowing educators to recognize those who may need additional support.

The correct answer highlights that universal screening effectively identifies students who are at risk for reading difficulties. By administering assessments to all students, educators can gather data that indicates which individuals might struggle with reading skills and thus require further intervention or support. This data-driven approach allows schools to allocate resources more effectively and work towards improving literacy outcomes.

In contrast, matching students to text levels pertains to differentiated instruction rather than screening, which aims to assess risk on a broader scale. Additionally, universal screening is designed to encompass all students rather than just a select few, ensuring that no one who may need help is overlooked. Lastly, subjective measures do not align with the objective nature of universal screening, which relies on standardized assessments to obtain reliable data regarding student performance.