Fountas & Pinnell Literacy™

Fountas & Pinnell™ is a reading benchmark assessment which is used to identify instructional reading levels.

What is a benchmark assessment?

A benchmark assessment system is a series of texts that can be used to identify a student's current reading level and progress along a gradient of text levels over time. The word "benchmark" means a standard against which to measure something.

Why is benchmark assessment a valuable use of time?

Educators can:

• Determine students' independent and instructional reading levels.
• Determine reading placement levels and group students for reading instruction.
• Select texts that will be productive for student's instruction.
• Assess the outcomes of teaching.
• Assess a new student's reading level for independent reading and instruction.
• Identify students who need intervention.
• Document student progress across a school year and across grade levels.