My child ended Kindergarten last year at level J. So they do continue to test to their level.

19:54 here. Forgot to say that what I described is just the three time a year formal assessment in grades k-2. Students are also assessed weekly within their guided reading groups using running records and oral comprehension questions. Teachers then move them up in levels as they demonstrate that they are independently reading books at the present level. When I taught first grade, groups moved up a level every 2-3 weeks or so.

My kid started K this year and I just found out at her parent teacher conference that she is at a 14. Her teacher said her goal for ALL the kids is to get to level 6, but that she is trying to get my DD to level 16 by the end if the year.

Not sure what happens after 16.

A combination of running records (where teachers note the number of errors a reader makes out of 100 words) and oral comprehension questions (there are 5). If a child scores above 95% on the running record and gets at least 4/5 on the oral comprehension, they are then tested on the next highest level. Starting at level 16, they must also pass written comprehension questions (2), which is why most kindergarten drs cannot test past level 16. The test is administered on a Palm Pilot with a standardized set of texts at each text level and is called mClass.

Does anyone know how the reading levels are assessed?

Is your child an equally excellent writer? Beyond 16, a written response is expected to pass the reading levels. Many young readers slow down a bit to work on writing after level 16.

Anonymous wrote:I just wish they would have gone past 16. Especially since that's where my kid started.

Perhaps it's too late for your child, but you can ask that your child be tested further.

I just wish they would have gone past 16. Especially since that's where my kid started.

OP here. Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like the schools will test beyond the specified end of year goal, which is a good thing.

My DD is in K in MCPS. She has a friend who is a 15 and another friend at 7. So at least at our elem school they teach to the level of each child. Even though the MCPS goal is level 4 for K - our school works to get the kids to a 6 by the end of the year.

At our school they stop at 16/J.

I would say when first grade started at our school 1/4 to 1/3 the kids seemed to be on level 16 or so.

My child started K at a 12 (pre 2.0 though) ..I would push to have you child tested so she can receive appropriate work.

First, 4 is fabulous for this time of the year!

Many schools stop testing at a 16 (end of first grade), definitely not a 4. Although the benchmark for kindergarten is 4, teachers are expected to get most students to a level 6.

My child is currently in k and I was told that she would continue to test even past 16, BUT very few kindergarteners can pass the written portion that is required in order to move into the letters that follow level 16. He is currently on a 16 and we and the teacher expect him to stay there for the rest of the year.

A few years back, I was told that our teachers stopped testing at a certain point--but I think it was more like the end of the next grade? Obviously, as you know, you should ask the teacher what she has done.

I understand that in MCPS, the goal by end of year is for kids to read at Level 4. Does anyone know if the school will test beyond level 4 in K at this time of the year, or will they just stop there if they know that the child has already met that goal? My child's teacher said that she has my child reading at Level 4. I was wondering though if she tested her for beyond that level or if it's more like yes, she's achieved Level 4 but I'm not testing her beyond that because she's achieved the goal in K. I know I can ask the teacher but wanted to see what other parents experiences are in their school. Thanks!