The "Stretch" Lexile Band: Potential Implications for Adolescent Struggling Readers

• In Event: Roundtable Session 33
  In Roundtable Session: Research on Literacy Development for Preadolescents

Abstract

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have increased literacy expectations for students across grade and content area. New CCSS-aligned assessments, arguably more rigorous than previous state standardized tests, will likely challenge struggling readers. The Lexile Framework for Reading® has realigned lexile ranges to match CCSS text-complexity expectations, creating “stretch” lexile bands which redefine grade-level reading expectations. This researcher evaluated the success of three cohorts of eighth grade students reading below grade level according to traditional lexile bands and new, “stretch” bands in a Maryland school district in terms of growth in lexile and pass rate on the state standardized test. The researcher suggests new cut scores to qualify students for ninth grade reading intervention as a result of the study.

Authors

• Jennifer Anne Vlangas, Notre Dame of Maryland University

• Joan Sattler, Notre Dame of Maryland University