Follow these steps to prepare for and administer the Reading Growth Assessment. This guide will help you get your classroom, students, and devices ready for a smooth assessment experience.
Step 1: Check Your Assessment Date
Before assessment day:
Find your Reading Growth Assessment date.
Remember that the assessment is given three times each school year:
Beginning of Year (BOY)
Middle of Year (MOY)
End of Year (EOY)
Watch for a reminder approximately two weeks before the assessment is pushed to students.
Important: Each student can take the BOY, MOY, and EOY assessment only once.
Step 2: Check Your School Year Dates
Assessment dates are based on the school year start and end dates selected for your school year.
To change these dates:
Go to the Student Roster page.
Select Settings.
Update your school year start and end dates.
Step 3: Prepare Student Devices
Before students begin, make sure:
All devices can access Raz-Plus.
Devices have a stable internet connection.
K–3 students have working headphones.
Students know how to log in to the Kids A–Z portal.
If students are using mobile devices, make sure Kids A-Z App has been updated to the latest version.
It is helpful to have students practice logging in before assessment day so they are familiar with the process.
Step 4: Plan Enough Time
Plan approximately 20–30 minutes to administer the assessment.
Choose a time when students can focus and work without unnecessary interruptions.
Step 5: Choose How to Administer the Assessment
Choose the option that works best for your classroom.
Assessment Administration Options
Option | How It Works | Best For | Benefits |
Whole Group | All students take the assessment at the same time. | A scheduled class assessment period | Allows you to monitor students closely, quickly address login or technical issues, and keep the assessment organized. |
Independent | Students complete the assessment independently at different times. | Independent work, literacy centers, open learning blocks, or other flexible learning times | Provides flexibility and allows students to test at different points throughout the day. |
Step 6: Have Students Start the Assessment
When students are ready:
Ask students to log in to Kids A–Z.
Have students find their Reading Checkpoint.
Ask students to select the Reading Checkpoint and begin.
Remind students to work carefully and do their best.
Step 7: Know What Students May See
You cannot print or view the exact assessment students will complete. However, you can access sample items to preview the student experience here.
Depending on the student's grade level and test form, students may encounter the following item types:
Assessment Item Types
Grade(s) | Item Type | What Students Do | What It Measures |
K–1 | Foundational Skills | Identify letters, sounds, or basic phonics patterns. | Alphabet knowledge, phonological awareness, and phonics |
K–2 | Picture | Match a picture to the correct word. | Vocabulary and early reading |
K–2 | Two-Sentence | Read one sentence and choose the best word to complete the next sentence. | Context clues and basic comprehension |
1–5 | Passage | Read a short passage and choose the best word to complete a statement. | Comprehension |
Note: The number and combination of item types vary by grade level and assessment form.
Step 8: Monitor Students During the Assessment
If you are administering the assessment as a whole group, monitor students while they work.
Watch for:
Students who need help logging in.
Device or internet issues.
Students who need help navigating to the Reading Checkpoint.
Provide help with technical issues or navigation, but allow students to answer the assessment questions independently so the results accurately reflect their current reading skills.
Step 9: Let Students Complete the Assessment
Give students enough time to complete the assessment.
Remember:
Plan for approximately 20–30 minutes.
Students should complete the assessment independently.
Each student can take the BOY, MOY, and EOY assessment only once.
Step 10: Repeat the Assessment Throughout the Year
The Reading Growth Assessment is administered three times each school year:
Beginning of Year (BOY) → Middle of Year (MOY) → End of Year (EOY)
These assessment periods provide multiple opportunities to measure student reading growth throughout the school year.
💡Want to learn more?
Visit the Reading Growth Assessment page for additional information, including Auto-Assignment Schedules, the Student View, Reports, and much more.