Universal screening to predict students' risk for reading problems is a foundational component of the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support framework and is required by law in many US states. School or district administrators are tasked with selecting screening assessments that are both technically adequate and feasible given the resources of their…

The Content Proximity Project was designed to improve the content validity of the MAP® Growth™ assessments while retaining the ability for the test to adapt off-grade and meet students wherever they are in their learning. Two main features of the project were the development of an enhanced item selection algorithm, and a spring pilot study…

Universal screening to predict students' risk for reading problems is a foundational component of the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support framework and is required by law in many US states. School or district administrators are tasked with selecting screening assessments that are both technically adequate and feasible given the resources of their…

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the potential of two silent reading fluency measures as indicators of reading competence. Specifically, we analyzed score differences between the "Test of Silent Contextual Reading Fluency" (TOSCRF), the "Test of Silent Word Reading Fluency" (TOSWRF), and other standardized…

Dynamic assessments (DAs) of word reading skills demonstrate strong criterion reference validity with word reading measures (WRMs). However, DAs vary in the skills they assess, their format and administration method, and the type of words and symbols used in test items. These characteristics may have implications on assessment validity. To compare…

The purpose of this study was to (a) examine the underlying assessment structure of the Derivational Morphology Task (DMORPH) and (b) investigate the relation of the DMORPH to vocabulary and reading comprehension outcomes with a sample of struggling adult readers. Specifically, participants included 218 struggling adult readers enrolled in adult…

This paper presents the findings of a study that intended to seek the content validity (CV) evidence of an instrument to measure the reading ability of university students in Sri Lanka. The reading passages and items were adapted from CEFR aligned Learning Resource Network (LRN) materials. The items were designed based on the cognitive processing…

In this paper, the White listening subject takes the form of a standardized high-stakes reading test, the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR). Although the test does not actually listen, it 'hears' and evaluates children's responses to its questions. I present the results of the 2017 Grade 8 reading exams, from the March, May,…

In sociolinguistic contexts where standardized languages coexist with regional dialects, the study of differential item functioning is a valuable tool for examining certain linguistic uses or varieties as threats to score validity. From an ecological perspective, this paper describes three stages in the study of differential item functioning…

Educators use universal screening to identify students who may be at risk for not meeting proficiency on the state assessment. Given the potential high-stakes of state tests, using accurate screeners is critical. Independent research is emerging on screeners such as the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), a computer adaptive test, and the…

International large-scale assessments have gained much attention since the beginning of the twenty-first century, influencing education legislation in many countries. This includes Spain, where they have been used by successive governments to justify education policy change. Unfortunately, there was a problem with the PISA 2018 reading scores for…

This study discusses the characteristics of test specifications (specs) and item writer guidelines (IWGs), their role in item development of English as a Second Language (ESL) reading tests, and the use of the CEFR for specs development. This mixed-method study analyzed specs, IWGs, tests, and the Pearson Test of English General test statistics.…

Rapid automatized naming (RAN) is a powerful predictor of reading fluency, and many digitized dyslexia screeners include RAN as an essential component. However, the validity of digitized RAN has not been established. Using a sample of 174 second-graders, this study tested (1) the comparability between paper and digitized versions of RAN and (2)…

The current study used principles of high-quality measurement design including domain specification, item generation, expert review, and piloting to develop two versions of a morphological awareness measure to be administered to 63 primarily English-speaking second grade students: the "Static Morphological Awareness Assessment (StMA)"…

With an increasing number of U.S. states implementing multi-tiered systems of reading support in schools, educators require validated screening measures to identify students at risk for reading difficulties and inform reading instructional practices. This study evaluates the utility and validity of a new measure developed as part of the Dynamic…