The construct of reading comprehension has changed significantly in the 21st century, however, some test designs have not evolved sufficiently to capture these changes. Specifically, the nature of literacy sources and skills required has changed (wrought primarily by widespread use of digital technologies). Modern theories of comprehension and…

Traditional measures of reading ability designed for younger students typically focus on componential skills (e.g., decoding, vocabulary) and the items are often presented in a discrete and decontextualized format. The current study was designed to explore whether it was feasible to develop a more integrated, scenario-based assessment of…

In the United States, educational thought leaders have called for higher expectations (Gordon Commission, 2010), more rigorous college and career readiness standards for K-12 education (National Governors Association Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010), and new constructs such as 21st century skills…

Recent advances in cognitive science and psychometrics have expanded the possibilities for the next generation of literacy assessment as an integrated domain (Bennett, 2011a; Deane, Sabatini, & O'Reilly, 2011; Leighton & Gierl, 2011; Sabatini, Albro, & O'Reilly, 2012). In this paper, we discuss four key areas supporting innovations in…

For decades, standardized reading comprehension tests have consisted of a series of passages and associated multiple-choice questions. Although widely used in and out of the classroom, there continues to be considerable disagreement regarding how or whether such tests have net value in the service of advancing educational progress in reading. This…