Four Main Categories of Reading Assessment

A comprehensive reading program includes four different types of assessments.

Assessments are an essential part of an effective and comprehensive reading program at any level. There are four main categories of reading assessment that are used at different points in the learning process. Screening assessments identify students who may need extra help meeting grade-level standards, progress assessments measure whether benchmarks are being met, diagnostic assessments identify issues that may be interfering with the ability to learn and outcome assessments determine whether the learning objectives were achieved.

Screening

Screening assessments are used at the beginning of a course to establish a baseline of where a student is before the course begins. Screening assessments will establish whether a student is adequately prepared for the course, and may also indicate whether a student will need extra help to master the material. All students should participate in screening assessments. In addition to identifying individual students that may need assistance, the results of the class as a whole may indicate that the teacher needs to modify her instructional methods or materials in order to address the needs of the class.

Progress Monitoring

Progress monitoring assessments are done periodically throughout the year to determine if students are on track to meet the grade-level reading standards. Progress assessments measure if students have improved from the baseline determined in the screening tests, as well as if they are on track to master the coursework for the year. If a progress assessment shows that an individual student is not meeting the benchmarks, diagnostic testing will be performed.

Diagnostic Testing

Diagnostic testing is performed when a screening assessment or progress measurement indicates that more information is needed about why a student is having difficulty learning. Diagnostic testing will cover areas such as alphabetics, fluency, vocabulary and text comprehension. The results of a diagnostic assessment provide in-depth information about a student's strengths and needs that can be used to better tailor instructional methods.

Outcome Assessment

Outcome assessments are performed at the end of the course to determine whether a student mastered the material. Outcome assessments may be designed by the teacher to measure the effectiveness of his particular program. Some schools also use standardized tests to compare their students' progress will national norms. There are also state standardized tests that measure whether state reading standards have been met. These state assessments are generally not performed annually, but are targeted at students in specific grade levels.

References

• National Center on Response to Intervention: Screening Tools Chart
• University of Utah: The ABC's of Monitoring Progress in Reading
• STAR: The Role of Diagnostic Asessment in Eveidence-Based Reading Instruction
• Illinois Striving Readers Project:: Screening, Diagnostic, and Outcome Assessment Information