Picture yourself with a list of words laid out before you:
- Chip
- Hill
- Jars
- Bep
- Fod
- Glork
With years of reading under their belts, adults would likely breeze through these words, even the nonsensical ones.
However, for beginning readers, the ability to decode words isn’t a given.
They often need direct instruction to understand how letters correspond to sounds.
Without mastering this vital skill, many young learners might struggle with more challenging texts as they progress.
Decoding as an Essential Reading Skill
Decoding stands out as an essential reading skill.
Yet, the United States has yet to establish a consistent assessment for it in early education.
This contrasts sharply with the United Kingdom, where every 6-year-old has been required to take a phonics assessment since 2012.
During the assessment, which occurs at the end of their first formal schooling year, children read aloud 40 words—half are real, and half are fabricated.
Teachers gauge their success based on how many words they can decode correctly, with an 80% pass rate as the benchmark.
While the assessment doesn’t significantly alter the students’ academic trajectories—the outcome doesn’t automatically lead to grade retention, for example—it provides parents with crucial information about their child’s abilities.
Students who don’t pass must retake the assessment in the following year, and schools use the data to evaluate their performance as well.
The Impact of Phonics Assessments in England
This phonics assessment in England acts as a supportive tool and is contributing positively to reading skills among young children.
Since 2012, the percentage of students passing on their first try jumped from 58% to 82% by 2019.
Though there was a decline to 75% in 2022 due to COVID-19 disruptions, the pass rate rebounded to 80% recently.
Additionally, England has shown marked improvements in international reading assessments.
Between 2011 and 2021, scores of English students on the PIRLS test for fourth graders went up, while many countries, including France, Finland, and Germany, saw declines.
Moreover, from 2011 to 2023, math scores for fourth graders increased by 11 points in England, while the United States faced a 24-point drop.
Although the phonics check alone isn’t entirely responsible for this progress—enriched curricula and aligned assessments also contribute—it remains a pivotal part of England’s educational success story.
Potential for Improvement in the U.S.
Could the U.S. gain similar advantages by implementing a phonics assessment like the one in England? American schools utilize various reading assessments that offer insights into early literacy skills.
However, significant inconsistencies exist in how students are evaluated, highlighting valuable lessons from the British framework.
A critical difference between the U.S. and England lies in the timing and focus of these assessments.
In the U.S., federally mandated testing for English Language Arts begins in third grade and examines a wide range of reading skills intertwined with students’ background knowledge.
The NAEP reading assessment starts in the fourth grade and faces similar challenges.
In contrast, England’s phonics assessment hones in on a singular and crucial skill—decoding—and targets students as young as six.
This early, targeted approach contrasts sharply with current practices in the U.S.
Another key distinction is that England clearly communicates the expectation for all students to master decoding while keeping parents well-informed about their child’s progress.
The situation is different in the U.S., where there is no uniform expectation, and parental notifications vary widely.
According to ExcelinEd, 16 states have implemented “universal screener” tests aimed at identifying K-2 students at risk of reading challenges, with nine of those states requiring parental notification for flagged issues.
This leaves a considerable number—41 states and the District of Columbia—without a comprehensive method for tracking student progress in decoding.
Schools and districts may choose to create their own phonics assessments, as these processes are generally straightforward and low-stakes, raising few concerns about test security.
However, state and national education leaders could take this a step further.
A state could implement a formal phonics check and publish outcomes to highlight the commitment to ensuring every student acquires essential decoding skills.
On the national level, lawmakers might consider instituting a phonics assessment across all states—or at the very least, incorporating it into the NAEP framework.
In conclusion, the timing of current reading assessments in the U.S. does not adequately address early literacy challenges.
The traditional practice of advancing students based on the hope they will naturally develop reading skills falls short.
An early phonics assessment would provide the necessary support to ensure children develop a solid foundation, effectively connecting letters with sounds.
Source: The74million