Idaho Reading Indicator
New reading scores: Kindergarten numbers drop further, achievement gaps linger
Reading scores increased in grades 1-3 compared to a year ago, all according to the latest release of reading scores.
Where are Idaho’s fall reading scores?
The State Department of Education has only released skeletal results from the fall reading test. The full data report is important, because it will allow parents and patrons to see how K-3 students fared in their neighborhood schools.
Reading scores drop in kindergarten, increase in grades 1-3
The SDE released preliminary fall IRI data showing only 43 percent of this year’s kindergarten class showed up to school prepared to read.
Reading achievement gaps linger, but some narrow slightly
Results from this year’s Idaho Reading Indicator were a mixed bag. Several demographic groups gained a bit of ground. For other student groups, chronic “achievement gaps” only grew wider.
Breaking down the new IRI and ISAT scores
It took several months, but the State Department of Education released final numbers from the spring tests late Thursday afternoon. Here’s a breakdown of some key numbers.
Little aide: Spring reading scores provide a promising ‘baseline’
Greg Wilson, Gov. Brad Little’s education adviser, pointed to one specific spring score: 73.5 percent of third-graders were reading at grade level.
What the new reading scores say — and what they don’t say
One key number: Nearly 26,000 K-3 students left Idaho schools this spring reading below grade level. And that’s after reading scores improved significantly over the school year.
About half of students score at grade level on new reading test
This fall, K-3 students took a new test designed to offer a more complete measure of reading skills. State officials say the 2018 scores should not be compared with numbers from the previous test.
As election nears, reading scores remain under wraps
Originally, the state said it would release the test scores in October. Now, the scores might not be unavailable until after Tuesday’s election.
Officials brace for drop in reading scores with new test
State officials are concerned about perceptions — and the inevitable comparisons. They say the new test is significantly different than its predecessor, so it’s impossible to compare the results.