How are families Informed about iReady testing?
Families receive a notification of iReady testing as part of the annual academic screening, growth, and diagnostic tests notification letter for the student's grade level
The iReady Reading and Math assessments are used in FCPS as a screening and growth tool to help teachers understand students' strengths and areas for support. iReady assessments help teachers monitor the growth of every student in learning the content knowledge and skills of the state standards, regardless of their starting point.
Families receive a notification of iReady testing as part of the annual academic screening, growth, and diagnostic tests notification letter for the student's grade level
The iReady Math and Reading tests are used as an academic screener at specific grade levels in FCPS. As an academic screener, the iReady tests give teachers information about strengths and needs in students’ basic mathematics and reading skills. Gaps in basic skills are the root of many later learning difficulties. Early detection and intervention in these gaps can help students reach their potential. As an academic screener, the iReady assessment provides a first look at areas in which students may need extra support. Teachers may collect more information using diagnostic assessments. When used with iReady results, information from diagnostic tests helps teachers plan targeted instruction or intervention in areas of need.
In grades 4-8, the iReady Reading test, along with the iReady Passage Reading Fluency (PRF) diagnostic task, fulfill literacy screening requirements under the Virginia Literacy Act. Results from these iReady assessments are used to determine if a student requires a reading plan.
The iReady Math and Reading tests are used as a SOL-aligned growth measure at specific grade levels in FCPS. As a growth measure, the iReady tests give teachers information about student progress in developing the content knowledge and skills defined in state standards. The growth measure is used three times per year to fulfill state requirements under the Virginia Assessment Program. iReady growth results allow teachers to ensure all students are developing at the expected rate and are making progress to close any learning gaps from previous years.
The iReady assessments utilize key areas, known as "domains," to evaluate students skills and progress. Students receive questions in four (4) domains for iReady Math and six (6) domains for iReady Reading. Some students will also receive an additional domain using the iReady Passage Reading Fluencye (PRF) task. The domains tested by iReady assessments are defined in the tables below.
The iReady Math test assesses four areas, or domains.
Domain Name | Description of the Skill Measured | How This Skills Helps Students as Mathematicians |
Numbers and Operations | Mathematics skills often thought of as arithmetic | Having a solid understanding of the values that numbers represent and being able to work with numbers to accurately calculate increases, reductions, and parts provides a solid foundation for more complex mathematical thinking. |
Algebra and Algebraic Thinking | Ability to see number patterns and to use symbols to represent and solve problems | Being able to apply algebraic thinking allows a student to make sense of a question and find a logical solution. |
Measurement and Data | Ability to collect, organize, and interpret numerical information | Being able to apply measurement and data skills helps a student make sense of complex numerical information. |
Geometry | Ability to recognize and analyze two- and three-dimensional shapes | Being able to apply geometry skills helps a student develop spatial reasoning and understand how real life objects relate to one another |
The iReady Reading test assesses five areas, or domains.
Domain Name | Description of the Skill Measured | How This Skills Helps Students as Readers |
Phonological Awareness | Understanding that a spoken word contains distinct sounds | Being able to distinguish the individual sounds in spoken words helps readers connect sounds to written words. |
Phonics | Understanding of the relationships between the sounds of spoken language and the letters of written language | Being able to make these connections quickly and easily helps readers make sense of what they are reading. |
High-Frequency Words | Recognition of words that appear often in the books that children read | Being able to recognize these words automatically helps students read quickly and easily, which helps them make sense of what they are reading. |
Vocabulary | Understanding the meaning of words | Knowing the meaning of many words allows readers to reach a deeper understanding of the message being communicated through writing. |
Comprehension of Literature | Understanding of what is being read in fictional text | Being able to recognize the sequence of events, the characters, and other elements of a story, poem, or play helps readers navigate increasingly complicated texts. |
Comprehension of Informational Text | Understanding of what is being read in nonfiction text | Being able to recognize the main idea, supporting details, and other elements of nonfiction helps readers effectively use informational resources they encounter in the real world |
The iReady Passage Reading Fluency (PRF) diagnostic task measures one additional domain for students whose iReady Reading test shows the need for additional data.
Domain Name | Description of the Skill Measured | How This Skills Helps Students as Readers |
Oral Reading Fluency | Ability to read text accurately, at an appropriate rate, and with suitable expression | Being able to read text fluently, helps readers have better comprehension because they do not need to use working memory for decoding and word recognition and can focus on constructing meaning from text |
The iReady family reports reflects the role as both a screening and growth measure this year.
After each iReady screening and growth assessment window, student results are shared with parents and guardians and are used by teachers to inform instructional planning. Contents of the official Fairfax County Public Schools iReady score report is provided below. Further information is also available for any students who took part in additional diagnostic assessments.
The FCPS iReady score report provides performance information from the student's most recent test in a testing window. Reports are generated in fall, winter, and spring. Families will only receive a report for a window when the student took the reading or mathematics iReady test.
The FCPS iReady score report provides results for the test overall and for tested domains.
Information about how to interpret these values is provided in the report letter. Contents of this letter are provided below.
When a student takes an iReady reading or mathematics test in a testing window, families receive a custom score report within 1 month of the close of the window.
Note that students in grade levels that use iReady only for one content area (reading or math) will receive an additional report for the other content area, if tested.
Created at: __________________
To the Parents/Guardians of:__________________ SID: _________ GRD: _____
Your student recently took an iReady test for mathematics and/or reading. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) uses iReady as a screening and growth assessment for mathematics and/or reading in grades 1-8 (https://www.fcps.edu/academic-screening-growth-and-diagnostic-tests). If your student’s grade level uses more than one screening and growth assessment, you will also receive a report for their other test. These other tests apply to students in grades 1-2, some students in grade 3, and middle school students in grades 6-8.
The iReady 40th percentile national norm for each testing window is the performance benchmark in FCPS. School staff review data for students who score below benchmark or perform below expectation in tested skills. Staff will administer diagnostic assessments and/or provide interventions as necessary. The school will share any diagnostic scores and intervention plans with identified goals for your student.
In the table(s) below, you will find general test information in the left-hand column. You will see your student’s national percentile score and benchmark status for the current window. You will also see their current scaled score and overall performance rating. Overall performance tells how your student’s scaled score compares to end-of-year expectations. More information on grade level expectations is available on the iReady Test Information webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/us).
The right-hand columns of the table(s) provide domain performance. Domain performance tells how your student’s skills on this test compare to end-of-year expectations. Your student may not test for some domains, depending on grade level and past performance. A description of test domains is available on the iReady Test Information webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/us).
If you have questions about strengths and needs in reading or mathematics, please contact your student’s teacher. If your student receives English for language development (ELD) services, keep in mind that iReady tests are in English. Contact your student's ESOL teacher for information about their English language development.
For a translation of this document, please visit the webpage at https://www.fcps.edu/node/35282 or contact your student’s school.
Testing Window: ____________________ Administered By: _____________________
Test Information | Domain Performance |
Subject: Mathematics | Number and Operations |
Test Date: ____ | Algebra and Algebraic Thinking |
National Percentile: ____ | Measurement and Data |
Benchmark Status: ____ | Geometry |
Scaled Score: ____ | |
Overall Performance: ____ | |
Test Information | Domain Performance |
Subject: Reading | Phonological Awareness |
Test Date: ____ | Phonics |
National Percentile: ____ | High Frequency Words |
Benchmark Status: ____ | Vocabulary |
Scaled Score: ____ | Comprehension Literature |
Overall Performance: ____ | Comprehension Informational Text |
Printable PDFs of the iReady universal screener score report for parents
VKRP assesses early learning skills for success in PreK and beyond
Understanding your student's results on reading and math progress assessments
Understand your student's growth and performance on state assessments
MAP Growth tests provide academic screening and growth data for students
VALLSS assessments provide information on student needs in reading
Understand your student's growth and performance on state assessments