North Billerica, MA, January 16, 2024
Curriculum Associates’ i-Ready Diagnostic for Reading and for Mathematics in Grades K–8 continues to earn high ratings in the Academic Screening, Progress Monitoring, and Academic Intervention categories from NCII of the American Institutes for Research (AIR). The award-winning program, which currently serves nearly 12 million students and approximately one-third of all Grades K–8 students in the United States, additionally received high ratings in nearly all grades and reviewed subjects in the Progress Monitoring and Classification Accuracy categories and in nearly all elementary grades and reviewed subjects in the Academic Intervention category.
“Screening is the foundation of impactful intervention. Ratings from NCII are based on rigorous technical standards, so we’re pleased that i-Ready once again received high ratings as a valid and reliable academic screening tool that can be used to help educators determine student eligibility for academic intervention,” said Kristen Huff, vice president of assessment and research at Curriculum Associates. “Receiving high ratings such as these from respected organizations like NCII gives educators the extra peace of mind and confidence they need to use i-Ready.
NCII is a nationally recognized organization designed to support data-based individualization in reading, mathematics, and behavior for students with severe and persistent learning and/or behavioral needs. NCII is funded by the US Department of Education and is administered by AIR. For the Academic Screening Tool review, NCII’s Technical Review Committee examined i-Ready Diagnostic based on its classification accuracy, technical standards, and usability features. The program received “Convincing Evidence,” the highest designation on reliability and validity for Grades K–8 in mathematics and reading, as well as high ratings on “Classification Accuracy,” which further shows i-Ready Diagnostic correctly identifies students at risk for academic difficulties.
NCII’s Technical Review Committee previously reviewed i-Ready Diagnostic and Growth Monitoring for the Progress Monitoring Tools category and gave it high ratings for its ability to monitor students’ academic progress in both reading and mathematics. The review examined performance-level standards, growth standards, and program usability.
Additionally, i-Ready Personalized Instruction previously received high ratings as an Academic Intervention Tool, signifying the program is an appropriate intervention for striving students. i-Ready Personalized Instruction for Reading received convincing and partially convincing evidence in the categories of Participants, Study Design, Fidelity of Implementation, and Targeted Measures, while i-Ready Personalized Instruction for Mathematics received convincing evidence on Performance Standards (i.e., Reliability and Validity) and Growth Standards (i.e., Alternate Forms).
“By streamlining testing time, customizing instruction, and monitoring every student’s path to proficiency, i-Ready helps educators go from gathering data to teaching must faster,” added Huff. “It’s because of this methodology that our program continues to be an integral part of so many schools’ and districts’ intervention efforts.”
More about i-Ready
i-Ready makes the promise of differentiated instruction a practical reality for Grades K–12 teachers and students. It combines powerful assessments and rich insights with effective and engaging instruction in reading and mathematics to address students’ individual needs.
The program’s Diagnostic provides educators with actionable criterion-referenced and normative data to deliver impactful, equitable learning experiences. Teachers administer the Diagnostic at the beginning of the school year to chart a course for teacher-led instruction, set an i-Ready Personalized Instruction path individualized for each student, and identify students’ differentiated growth goals for the year. A midyear and end-of-year Diagnostic help students and teachers measure growth and have data chats. Teacher-led and personalized instruction continue throughout the year to help students address their learning gaps and access grade-level learning.
To learn more about i-Ready, visit CurriculumAssociates.com/i-Ready. To view i-Ready’s full NCII ratings, visit IntensiveIntervention.org or CurriculumAssociates.com/NCII.
About Curriculum Associates
Founded in 1969, Curriculum Associates, LLC designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screens and assessments, and data management tools. The company’s products and outstanding customer service provide teachers and administrators with the resources necessary for teaching diverse student populations and fostering learning for all students.
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