Foundations of Reading

The Foundations of Reading assessment is aligned with scientifically based reading research for Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Middle Childhood Education, and Special Education teacher licensure candidates.

Developed by Massachusetts, the following states currently use the Foundations of Reading assessment as part of their educator licensure system:

  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts
  • Mississippi
  • New Hampshire
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Rhode Island
  • Utah
  • Wisconsin

Additional details about specific licensure requirements for each state can be found in this chart.

Foundations of Reading

Teacher Licensure & Performance Assessment

Why Foundations of Reading?

The Foundations of Reading assessment focuses on development, instruction, and assessment of reading. It covers the essential components of reading development and best practices in reading instruction and assessment as identified by reading research.

Authentic classroom-based scenarios

Candidates can demonstrate their abilities to make evidence-based instructional decisions by applying knowledge of reading development, instruction, and assessment.

Breadth of content

The Foundations of Reading assessment addresses the full range of knowledge to teach reading.

Depth of content

Candidates must demonstrate knowledge of assessment, differentiation, and intervention with respect to each component of reading to address all students’ needs for reading instruction.

Aligned with:

  • Current, convergent research on reading instruction and assessment
  • International Literacy Association Standards for Reading Professionals — Elementary Classroom Teacher Candidates
  • International Dyslexia Association Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading — Classroom Educators
  • National Reading Panel findings*
  • National Literacy Panel on Language-Minority Children and Youth findings
An Annotated Bibliography is provided to help educator preparation programs and candidates identify resources related to the content covered on the Foundations of Reading assessment.
 
*The National Reading Panel defines scientifically based reading research (SBRR) as research that "applies rigorous, systematic, and objective procedures to obtain valid knowledge relevant to reading development, reading instruction, and reading difficulties."