How reliable is the SRA as a reading assessment tool? Do you feel this test is reliable enough to determine reading group placement in school? Is it limited to certian grade levels or is it good for k-12. I am curious because I am in a new school system and this test is to be used to determine my childrens reading level. The school knows that two of them have a language disability as this is documented. They want a quick assessment of thier reading level and they say this test should tell. They have a program called SRA reading correction or something like that that they use for students who don’t test well.
Re: reading assessment
Since the test is designed to be used to place students in the SRA program, it’s pretty reliable. I’ve used it. I believe it’s geared to grades 4-12 in general; it targets the specific reading accuracy skills taught in that program so grade level isn’t that important. It does a very good job of getting a kiddo into the right “corrective reading” placement.
It’s not, however, a good diagnostic test for reading problems — but it sounds like that’s been done in those tests where they “don’t test well.” By “reading level” they should mean the level of SRA program — as opposed to “grade level” (what exactly does that mean anyway??) or percentiles compared to the normal population.
Re: reading assessment
Sue:
Sue:
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I think it depends on who does the testing. Since it’s an oral reading test, and every error counts, I’ve found that a student does better when they are reading to someone they are familiar with rather than our reading facilitators, who they are usually meeting for the first time when they take the test. It has nothing to do with competence in giving the test. It’s just that some of the kids become very nervous and make more mistakes than they would have, ordinarily. But on a positive note, if these students do really well on the beginning lessons, there is always room for adjustments. And I have nothing but praise for the SRA DI programs for remedial students who had not been exposed to a good phonetic approach, previously. For more severe LD students, a more structured multisensory program is necessary.
Marilyn
Marilyn
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As far as I know, what you’re referring to are actually SRA program placement tests and nothing more. There are several different types: Corrective Reading (Decoding Strategies); Corrective Reading (Comprehension); and Reading Mastery. There may be one for their Horizons program as well, but I’m not sure. These are all Direct Instruction programs. If your childrens’ school is a Direct Instruction school (as mine is), they will determine where your children will fit within the programs used in the school.
However, if you really want to know their actual reading levels, I would prefer a different type of reading inventory to be completed that is not connected with a specific reading program such as Jerry Johns, or Sucher-Alred, Spache etc. to give a more accurate picture of how your children read.
Also, if your children are receiving Special Education services, you might want to request that your child’s Special Ed. Resource teacher administer individual reading achievement tests such as the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test-Revised; ,or the individual achievement tests on the WIAT; Woodcock-Johnson.; GE Test of Decoding Skills.
Marilyn