Explanation of the Reading Level Assigned to Students

Vernon Public Schools
Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessments
Target Levels for Grades K – 5
Revised May 31, 2011
The following chart identifies the target levels for the Fountas and Pinnell
Benchmark Assessment System. These are benchmark instructional levels. In
order to be at that Benchmark Instructional Level, students must meet the
following criteria:
For Levels A – K: Highest level read with:
● 90-94% accuracy with excellent or satisfactory comprehension or
● 95-100% accuracy with limited comprehension.
Levels L – Z: Highest level read with:
● 95-97% accuracy with excellent or satisfactory comprehension or
● 98-100% accuracy with limited comprehension.
End of
November
End of
March
End of
June
K A B C
1 E G I
2 K L M
3 N O P
4 Q S T
5 U V W

Explanation of the Fountas and Pinnell Reading Levels
Assigned to Individual Students
Vernon public elementary schools assess students’ reading levels at the end of each
trimester using the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System.
Students are tested individually using the following procedure. They read orally from
a leveled text for a few pages. The teacher records their errors and fluency.
They then finish the text silently. The teacher asks comprehension questions to
determine their understanding at this level. If they read fluently, make few errors and
understand the text, a higher level is assessed. The testing continues until the student
reaches a point of frustration. Through this process, the teacher identifies the
student’s independent, instructional, and frustration reading levels.
The chart below shows the range of expected reading levels for each grade.
An example:
Grade 5 students should be
reading in the range marked
S-W.
At the end of the year, Level S
and T would be on the low end
of the range.
Level V and W would be on
the high end of the range.
Levels X, Y and Z would be
considered above grade level.