A Multidimensional Framework to Evaluate Reading Assessment Tools

The assessment of reading comprehension is a critical part of designing and implementing programs that teach reading strategies. For example, assessing students’ reading comprehension ability and skills before an intervention allows potential weaknesses of an individual reader to be diagnosed. Training can then be adjusted to meet the needs of that reader to maximize the impact of the intervention. Effective interventions should also assess and monitor students’ progress in the development or improvement of reading comprehension skills throughout the program. Finally, it is usually necessary to assess the extent to which an intervention is effective in improving comprehension skills. For these reasons, evaluation of reading comprehension assessment tools is considered an important first step in designing and developing reading strategy interventions.