The School Principal – Educational Vistas Taking on the Reading Challenge

Reading is the most significant education challenge facing our nation. There are reasons why this is true; but the problem will not go away without appropriate intervention. While the science of reading helps, it is not a panacea. It provides a necessary reading foundation, but it needs to continue the process of reading for meaning. School districts and schools are compelled to examine the status of their student reading results. Examining reading reports based on State testing, as well as local assessments, is the way to begin.

Educational Vistas is ready to assist administrators and teachers to address reading challenges. As a long-term scoring vendor for many school districts for both State and local testing, it has garnered immense insight into the nature of student reading challenges. It has the experience and technical tools to assist educators to heighten awareness of the challenges, improve practices, materials, and technical support to establish a reading improvement pathway. The information below displays key elements to make this happen.

Elements of a Reading Improvement Pathway

Data and information in various formats are the initial step for analysis. Identification of reading hot spots confirm the existence of reading challenges; and, the nature and extent of them. Educational Vistas with its experience and technical power is able to make this element of the reading improvement pathway happen quickly to establish a foundation for reading improvement.

Secondly, a description of each challenge makes clear where each appears, and what factors contribute to its existence. Attention to State reading standards is crucial, particularly as they address the challenge of reading for meaning. Key questions guide an analysis at this stage to begin relating a reading challenge with current practice.

Next, what is learned from an analysis with its deeper insight needs to be examined in light of its place in the curriculum and practices. This element takes longer and requires a solid but gentle approach so as not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Reading skill development, student performance opportunity, and selection of reading material are critical areas to inspect.

Finally, modifications and adjustments in specific instructional practices and interventions become the basis for reading improvement with a plan for periodic inspection to monitor results. Educational Vistas can assist this phase with its technical, assessment monitoring system which is simple and provides staff with immediate results for corrections.

Student Reading Levels

Classroom and State reading testing are designed to acquire a score; however, these tests provide limited insight into the reading level of students taking the tests. Acquiring a student’s reading level informs the predictability of student performance and what the student needs to improve. Educational Vistas Degrees of Reading Power (DRP) is the test to do this. NYS developed and used DRP as its State reading test for many years. DRP has the power to relate a reading level with a reading performance score, and it may be administered quickly online with immediate reporting informing appropriate action.

Those interested in learning more about EdVistas’ pathway to assist the reading challenge may do so by contacting Pete Cooper at 518-925-6021 or pcooper@edvistas.com.