Should I assign the Free Reading Assessment at my EL students’ reading level or end-of-year EL target level?

All students, including English learners, should be assigned the Free Reading Assessment at their current grade level in school. The Free Reading Assessment is designed to measure students’ performance on English-language, end-of-grade-level expectations in reading. Assigning a student a test designed for a different grade will result in invalid scores, as students will not be assessed on end-of-grade-level expectations as intended. Additionally, scores will not be comparable if students are assessed at different grades.

In order to support your EL students, we recommend making sure all students are familiar with the CommonLit platform, computerized assessments, and terminology and expectations for standardized tests generally. Additionally, if possible, translating the directions on the test (not the actual questions) into the student’s home language may be helpful.

We also encourage you to refer questions to your building’s and/or district’s leadership to understand your school’s testing policies as well as your state’s laws around accommodations for English learners.

We understand that taking a grade-level, English-language assessment may be particularly challenging for students who are still gaining proficiency in English. It is important to note that Free Reading Assessment data should always be considered alongside other information about students’ strengths and needs, including teachers’ observations, formative assessments, and other summative assessments.