Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

What is one purpose of literacy assessment?

1. To exclusively evaluate the effectiveness of reading programs.

2. To monitor progress toward district and state benchmarks as well as individual goals.

3. To design new literacy tests.

4. To measure only students’ vocabulary knowledge.

The correct answer is: To monitor progress toward district and state benchmarks as well as individual goals.

The selected answer highlights a critical purpose of literacy assessment, which is to monitor progress toward various benchmarks and personal learning targets. Continuous assessment plays a vital role in identifying how well students are performing academically, enabling educators to make informed decisions about instruction and support. By measuring progress against district and state benchmarks, teachers can ensure that their teaching strategies are effective and that students are on track to meet essential literacy skills. Monitoring individual goals allows for a personalized approach to education, catering to the unique needs of each student. This is crucial for fostering growth and addressing potential areas of difficulty, ultimately guiding instructional adjustments based on real-time data. Other choices present different aspects of assessment that are not as encompassing. Evaluating the effectiveness of reading programs is part of literacy assessment but does not capture the full scope of its purposes. Designing new literacy tests is more about creating assessment tools rather than utilizing assessments for tracking progress. Measuring only students’ vocabulary knowledge focuses too narrowly on one facet of literacy, ignoring the broader array of skills that assessments aim to evaluate.