Seattle Public Schools | Untitled Document

Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA)
The Developmental Reading Assessment is an individual, performance-based assessment designed for use in primary grades. In individual assessment conferences, as students read the text aloud or silently, teachers analyze and assess student reading and comprehension The teacher determines a student's DRA level by calculating the number of errors, the time each student took to complete the assessment, the student's phrasing and retelling. Kindergarten, first and second grade DRA scores are reported to the district and provide information about reading progress in Seattle Public Schools elementary schools. The Washington legislature passed the requirement that all second graders be tested for the purpose of reporting to parents early enough in the child's schooling whether or not the child was progressing satisfactorily in reading. Using the Developmental Reading Assessment in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 serves two purposes:
	1. To provide information about each student's progress and to guide instruction. 2. To provide a measure of year-to-year growth towards the Seattle School Board's Literacy Resolution.

Students in kindergarten and first and second grades take the DRA, but for different reasons and toward different ends. All students are tested to their highest level of proficiency.

Kindergarten - all students who have passed Developmental Stage A Assessment take the DRA in the spring. These scores are reported to the district. Teacher may use the DRA Resource Guide provided with the DRA kits or "Administering the Developmental Reading Assessment" manual provided by the Seattle School District.

Grade 1 - all students take the DRA in the fall as part of Seattle's Classroom Based Assessments. These fall scores inform the teacher, but they are not reported to the district. All first grade students are tested again in the spring and these scores are reported to the district. Teachers may use the DRA Resource Guide provided with the DRA kits or "Administering the Developmental Reading Assessment" manual provided by the Seattle School District.

Grade 2 - all students take the DRA in the fall and the spring and scores are reported to the district on both occasions. The spring standard for second graders is 24. Teachers use "Administering the Developmental Reading Assessment" manual provided by the Seattle School District.

Generally, classroom teachers try to administer the DRA to 2-3 students each day. Administration time varies for individual student conferences and the completion of the DRA Student Information Sheet. Within the four-week testing window, teachers should be able to administer make-ups to any absent students. If a student has been absent the entire time, or if they have withdrawn or transferred, leave all the bubbles blank or tear up the answer sheet.