TESTING WITH THE ANALYTICAL READING INVENTORY (ARI) AND THE INFORMAL READING INVENTORY (IRI)

The Analytical Reading Inventory (Grades 4-8) and the Informal Reading Inventory (Grades 9 and 10) must be administered to selected students in Grades 4-10 during the last month of the school year.

Attachment 1 - (Grades 4-8) Stock Numbers for Analytical Reading Inventory (ARI) and Informal Reading Inventory (IRI) Worksheets For End of the Year Use

Attachment 1 - (Grades 4-8) Stock Numbers for Analytical Reading Inventory (ARI) and Informal Reading Inventory (IRI) Worksheets For End of the Year Use

Brief Explanation:

The Analytical Reading Inventory (ARI) by Woods and Moe is a teacher-administered reading assessment that is given one-on-one and is to be used with students in Grades 4-8. The Informal Reading Inventory (IRI) by Burns and Roe is similar to the ARI and is to be used at Grades 9 and 10. Both the ARI and the IRI are valuable tools to diagnose student reading skills and strategies, and to inform classroom instruction. Each also serves as an additional measure to confirm students' reading levels and determine placement in literacy coursework and Blueprint support programs.

The classroom teacher (elementary) or the literacy/English teacher (secondary) administers the ARI/IRI to individual students. The assessment results determine a student's instructional and independent reading level, and tell the teacher which reading strategies a student is able to use and which reading strategies and skills need improvement. Both tests take approximately 30 minutes per student to administer. They both require teacher training. For information on ARI and IRI training sessions, contact the Literacy Department at (619) 725-7260.

Students to be Tested with the ARI/IRI
The ARI/IRI must be administered during the last month of the school year to students in the categories indicated below. This includes Fluent English students and English Learners enrolled in the district three or more years. The results will be used to confirm each student's reading level and determine appropriate placement in summer and fall literacy coursework and support programs.

• Grade 6 students at middle schools who scored significantly below grade level on the SDRT and are at risk of retention.
• Grade 7 students at junior high schools who scored significantly below grade level on the SDRT and are at risk of retention.
• Grade 8 students at all schools who scored significantly below grade level on the SDRT and are candidates for the ninth grade three-period accelerated literacy core course.
• Students in Grades 4-10 whose parent(s)/guardian(s) waived them out of taking the SDRT.

The ARI/IRI may also be administered to any student in Grades 4-10 for whom the teacher believes that the SDRT score is not an accurate measure of the student's reading level. This may include students for whom there appears to have been an administration or scoring problem with the SDRT, students who have made substantial progress since administration of the SDRT, students for whom the Scanning subtest alone resulted in a total reading score below or significantly below grade level, etc. These results will inform placement of students in summer school and fall literacy coursework.

Testing Materials
ARI and IRI testing materials have been distributed to schools. Use Form B passages for this end-of-the-year testing. ARI and IRI worksheets are now available through the stock catalog at no cost to sites. The stock numbers for the appropriate ARI and IRI worksheets have been included with this circular as an attachment. Questions regarding testing materials may be directed to the Standards and Assessment Office at (619) 725-7172.

Data Collection and Score Reporting
Pre-printed scan sheets will be sent to traditional calendar schools in mid-May and year-round schools in mid-June to record the ARI/IRI reading levels of students who must be tested as indicated previously. Blank scan sheets will be included for additional students identified for testing based on the criteria above. Completed scan sheets must be returned to the Standards and Assessment Office at the Education Center, Annex 3 by June 12, 2001 (traditional schools) or July 16, 2001 (year-round schools). Please direct questions related to ARI/IRI score reporting to the Standards and Assessment Office at (619) 725-7172.

Results from the central scanning at the end of the school year will be accessible via the district data system (AERIES and/or SISCS) to inform student placement in first semester literacy coursework.

Testing of Special Education and 504 Plan Students with Accommodations
IDEA 97 requires students with disabilities to be included in districtwide assessments. The ARI and IRI are not standardized tests. Because they are used for instructional decision making, it is appropriate to administer them to students whose IEP/ISP precluded their participation in this spring's SDRT administration. Appropriate accommodations such as large print, Braille text, or use of a room with no distractions that are listed in the student's IEP/ISP may be used. If you have questions regarding large print or Braille text as an accommodation for visually impaired or blind students only, please contact Judie Kelly at (858) 490-8456. The ARI and IRI are not appropriate for students who meet the criteria for participation in Alternate Assessment. Decisions related to student support and course placement should be consistent with each student's IEP/ISP. For further information, please contact Marsha Heller for Special Education concerns at (858) 490-8484 or Sally Tucker for 504 Plan questions at (858) 627-7583.