The Developmental Reading Assessment®, Second Edition, PLUS (DRA2+) is a formative reading assessment system that allows teachers to assess student reading level, then observe, record, and evaluate changes in their reading performance.
DRA2+ includes recommendations for scaffolded support to increase student reading proficiency. DRA2+ has undergone rigorous field-testing and is supported by sound validity and reliability analyses.
*A student's DRA2 level (independent reading level) reflects the student's oral reading fluency (95% accuracy) and comprehension (90%) at independent performance levels
Developed for Teachers
Development of the DRA-2 was based on what educators and the extant research literature identified as being key characteristics and behaviors of good readers;which were drawn from a variety of sources including the research literature concerning reading development and instruction.
Reliability analyses were conducted in the continual evolution of DRA2:
- Internal Consistency Reliability
- Passage Equivalency
- Test-Retest Reliability
- Inter-Rater and Expert Rater Reliabilities
In short, DRA-2 is a valid measurement of accuracy, fluency, and comprehension as evidenced by:
- Criterion-Related Validity
- Construct Validity
- Content Validity
What does DRA do?
DRA offers educators the tools they need to observe and document student reading abilities as well as inform instructional practice.
Determine each student's independent (or instructional) level with an evaluation of three components of reading: reading engagement, oral reading fluency, and comprehension
Quickly determine student's instructional needs, to create a plan documenting what each student needs to learn next with the Focus for Instruction. Once the assessment is complete, teachers can used this information to differentiate instruction and create instructional groups.
As appropriate, a Teacher can obtain more in-depth information for an individual student with DRA Word Analysis. This diagnostic assessment provides educators with a systematic means to observe how struggling and emerging readers attend to and work with various components of spoken and written words.
The Basics
The DRA-2 Benchmark Assessment measures each student's reading proficiency through systematic observation, recording, and evaluating of performance. Administer the Benchmark Assessment to identify an instructional plan that will meet the needs of each student.
The Process
By following the straightforward, four-step process, the DRA-2 Benchmark Assessment pinpoints student strengths, abilities, and needs.
Step 1: Reading Engagement
Observe Student reading habits, preferences, and goals
Step 2: Oral Reading Fluency
Analyze and record oral reading
Step 3: Comprehension
Evaluate how well students understand the information they have read
Step 4: Teacher Analysis
Use Assessment results to personalize instruction to meet the needs of every learner
