Measuring Reading Progress in Second Grade

Abstract

Abstract. Learning progress assessments (LPA) are increasingly used by teachers to inform instructional decisions. This study presents evidence for the reliability, validity, and measurement invariance of a newly developed LPA for reading in Grade 2 (quop-L2 – quop Lesetest für zweite Klassen) that assesses the development of reading comprehension in German at the word, sentence, and text levels based on short, equivalent computer-based tests at three-week intervals. All tests were sufficiently reliable. The proposed three-dimensional structure was confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis based on data from N = 1,913 second-grade students. In a subsample of n = 354 students, correlations between quop-L2 and a standardized reading test, teacher judgments, measures of intelligence, and mathematics provided evidence for quop-L2’s convergent and discriminant validity. The equivalent tests were strictly invariant over time. Most importantly, results of structural equation models showed that progress in the quop-L2 assessment at the sentence and text levels was related to growth in standardized reading tests assessed at the beginning and end of the school year. Thus, results indicate that quop-L2 can reliably and validly assess students’ actual reading performance and progress.