What do state reading test specifications specify?
Federal law (NCLB) mandates that every state is required to test students’ basic skills. The University of Minnesota publication, Para, points out that “each state is responsible for selecting what will be tested and how in its large-scale statewide assessments.” While this means that state specifications will vary, there are basic reading standards that are likely to be assessed in every state.Basic UnderstandingStudents must demonstrate that they are able to understand the text in a basic manner. This means that the student comprehends the vocabulary used in the selection, can easily identify the words used and can read with enough fluency to complete the test in a reasonable amount of time. Note: Some states used untimed tests.ComprehensionStudents are asked to identify the main idea of a passage, sequence key events in a story and answer questions that require background knowledge. Students are often asked to show that they can glean word meanings from context.Knowledge of Literary
