According to No Child Left Behind guidelines, a diagnostic assessment in reading is an assessment that is "valid, reliable, and based on scientifically based reading research; and used for the purpose of identifying a child's specific areas of strengths and weaknesses so that the child has learned to read by the end of Grade 3; determining any difficulties that a child may have learning to read and the potential cause of such difficulties; and helping to determine possible reading intervention strategies and related special needs." A diagnostic assessment in reading offers a more in-depth picture about a student's needs in a given area. It may take longer to administer, but need only be given to students on skill areas identified by screening.
The TPRI® (Texas Primary Reading Inventory) is a scientifically-based diagnostic assessment in reading for students in K-3. It is a diagnostic assessment in reading designed to help teachers identify students not at-risk for reading failure, plan instructional interventions to address areas of student weakness, and monitor student progress. It is a diagnostic assessment that contains both a screening component and an inventory component.
Authored by Barbara Foorman and Jack Fletcher of the Center for Academic and Reading Skills (CARS – UT-Houston) and David Francis of the Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics (TIMES, University of Houston), TPRI has stood the test of extensive classroom administrations. Based on more than 10 years of scientific research, it is widely cited for the validity and reliability of its data and for providing a comprehensive evaluation of a child's literacy development. TPRI has been approved by IDEA for Reading First screening, diagnosis and progress monitoring.
Wireless Generation's mCLASS®:TPRI® handheld-to-Web software combines the gold standard K-3 reading assessment TPRI with tools for saving time, streamlining administration, and facilitating reporting and instructional planning. Many districts (particularly under Reading First) use mCLASS:TPRI as a deeper diagnostic instrument with children who are identified as being at-risk in a DIBELS screening.
A pilot program in 100 Texas schools during the 2002-2003 school year showed that, on average, a school saved 150 instructional hours – or 4 weeks of instructional time – by using mCLASS:TPRI software rather than the traditional paper-based assessment. 93% of teachers surveyed would recommend mCLASS:TPRI software to another teacher.
The mCLASS:TPRI solution:
Dramatically saves teachers time. By calculating scores, automating the assessment's adaptive branching logic and streamlining data entry, the system frees teachers for more instructional time.
Promotes assessment accuracy. Because the computer does all calculations and automates adaptive branching logic, the risk of human error is significantly diminished.
Automates data aggregation and reporting. With the push of one button, all assessment results securely move from the handheld device to the Web, where educators can access and print student, class, campus and district-level reports.
Helps teachers identify the right instructional tactics for each child. mCLASS:TPRI software recommends specific instructional activities, based on each child's assessment results.
Offers ongoing progress monitoring. The optional Fluency module lets teachers check progress as frequently as needed.
Wireless Generation, Inc. provides educators with the most advanced system for collecting and using assessment data, helping to create a culture of continuous feedback and improvement in classrooms across the country. The company provides in-depth professional development and training services.
The company offers the leading early reading assessments on the mCLASS platform, including TPRI®, DIBELS®, PALS™, Reading Records, CIRCLE™, Tejas LEE®, and Reading 3D™. Each component features Web-based reporting, analysis, data management, and instructional planning tools to provide a complete assessment solution.
Since mCLASS software's introduction in 2002, more than 100,000 educators in 48 states have adopted it for observational assessment. Today, two million PreK-6 students are being assessed using mCLASS solutions.
Wireless Generation continues to develop new products and services based on its mission of maximizing the educational value of every teacher-student interaction.
Glossary of Related Terms