The tests displayed on this website were based upon California's 1997 Language Arts Standards, 2007 Frameworks, and state-adopted Literacy Programs.  Used by over 1 million students in grades K-6 the tests target phonics, reading comprehension, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and writing skills. The 6-week assessments were developed to provide teachers with ongoing insights into students' strengths and weaknesses. The assessments helped teachers determine next steps to maximize learning. The tests may be administered at home to help parents develop an understanding of their children's progress toward grade-level reading and writing skills and strategies. Go to the menu at the top and bottom of this page to download tests. Teacher materials have all directions for administering the tests as well as answers.

The assessments provided on this site were funded by Reading First and used to inform teachers and administrators regarding student performance throughout the school year. The information helped teachers determine the effectiveness of their instruction and plan for the next 6 weeks.

Reading First (RF) was the cornerstone of the George W. Bush administration’s No Child Left Behind education legislation. This federal program was created to encourage the use of scientifically based research as the foundation for K–3 reading instruction. As an incentive for schools, RF offered $900 million in state grants. States were eligible for grants if they could demonstrate how they planned to help local educational agencies improve reading instruction and student achievement using reading instruction and assessment built on scientifically based research. 

In California 57% of the low-income students in RF were English learners as compared to 29% statewide. The unprecedented gains from 1999 to 2005 have never been duplicated. Key factors to student growth centered around California's carefully developed research-based state standards and training programs. To support these standards Open Court Reading and Houghton Mifflin Reading, the only available programs based on the standards and the research at that time, were adopted. Support was provided for administrators and teachers on the research and program implementation by the California RF Technical Assistance Center (CTAC).

The purpose of this website is to provide you with the reliable, validated, easy to administer assessments developed by the Reading Lions Center for Reading First schools; funded by the Department of Education, No Child Left Behind grants. Using the tests provided on this website might offer a way for parents and teachers to get an idea whether or not a student is reading on grade level. Should a student not meet minimum grade-level measures as defined, Consider using a test from a previous grade level to get a preliminary understanding of where a student might be in regard to grade-level reading. Poor performance on any of the tests provided on this website should be regarded with extreme caution as there are many factors that could result in lower than normal scores. Further investigation would be required for any student not meeting grade-level expectations.