Reading Assessments

The spring ACA reading assessment screening is complete! This fall you learned in my blog about the FAST reading testing that replaced our former reading assessment Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) that was used since 2008. 

Teachers assessed their students in reading fluency using a one minute oral reading test that is called Curriculum Based Measurement in Reading (CBMR). Students in grades 1-6 read three stories. Their median score from the reading passages was recorded into the state's Iowa Reading Portal. The accuracy, speed, and expression of a child's reading ability often constitutes higher comprehension. 

A second type of reading measurement where children were tested was called aReading. This is a test children read online where they answer multiple questions based on a reading passage. When the reader earns an accurate answer to the various questions the student can continue to higher-level passages. Once the student reaches a certain inaccuracy level in reading the passage's comprehension questions the test ends. 

Each reader is tested in the fall, winter and spring.Teachers evaluate their students results and determine if they have read below, reached, or surpassed the benchmarks that have been identified for the expected trajectory for appropriate grade level reading progress. 

At ACA we had a wonderful percentage of our students who met or surpassed the expected benchmark in the Spring reading tests. Schools that have effective core literacy instruction will  have 80% or higher of their children meet benchmark. We praise God for the students who tried their best, the teachers who instructed them and parents/guardians who understand the importance of consistent reading progress. Have your child read daily during the summer so his/her reading ability will continue to increase and the promise of reaching their fall benchmark will be a reality! 

The table below shows the fall winter and spring benchmark for each grade level for the two reading tests:curriculum-based measure reading as well as aReading tests.