PIRLS 2006 Encyclopedia

PIRLS 2006 EncyclopediaTable 4 Structural Characteristics of Reading Curricula in Primary Schools PIRLS 20064th GradeCountriesNationalCurriculumGrade to GradeStructureYearIntroducedUnderRevisionReading as aSeparateCurriculumAreaAustria k 1–2, 3, 4 2003 k jBelgium (Flemish) j 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 1989 j jBelgium (French) j 1–2, 3–6 1999 j jBulgaria k 1–4 2002 j jCanada, Alberta j 1–9 2000 j jCanada, British Columbia j 1–7 1996 k jCanada, Nova Scotia j 1–3, 4–6 1997 j jCanada, Ontario j 1–8 2006 j kCanada, Quebec j 1–2, 3–4, 5–6 2001 k jChinese Taipei k 1–3, 4–6, 7–9 2003 j jDenmark k 1–2, 3–4, 5–6 2003 k jEngland k 1–2, 3–6 1988 j jFrance k 1–2, 3–5 2002 k jGeorgia j 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 1997 k j1Germany j 1–6 2006 j jHong Kong SAR k 1–6 2000 j jHungary k 1–4, 5–6, 7–8 2003 j jIcelandk1–4, 5–7, 8–10; Enablingobjectives for each grade1999 k jIndonesia k 1–3, 4–6 2004 k jIran, Islamic Rep. of k 1–5 2000 j jIsrael k 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 2003 k jItaly k 1, 2–3, 4–5 2004 k jKuwait k 1–5 1992 j jLatvia k 1–3, 4–6, 7–9 2004 j jLithuania k 1–2, 3–4 2003 k jLuxembourg k 1–2, 3–6 1989 k jMacedonia, Rep. of k 1–4, 5–8 1996 j jMoldova, Rep. of k 1–4 1996 k jMorocco – – – – –2Netherlands k 1–8 2006 j kNew Zealand k 1–13 1996 k jNorway k 1–4, 5–7 2006 j jPoland j 0, 1, 2, 3 1999 j jQatar j 1–6 1995 j jRomania k 1–4 1998 k jRussian Federation k 1–4 2004 k kScotland j 1–3, 4–7 1991 k jSingapore k 1–6 2001 k jSlovak Republic k 1–4, 5–9 1997 k jSlovenia k 1–3, 4–6, 7–9 1998 j jSouth Africa k 1–3, 4–6, 7–9 2002 j jSpain k 1–2, 3–4, 5–6 1993 k jSweden k 1–5 1994 j kTrinidad and Tobago k 1–4, 5–6 1999 j jUnited States j Varies by state – j kSOURCE: IEA Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2006k Yesj NoBackground data provided by National Research Coordinators.A dash (–) indicates comparable data are not available.1 Grade to Grade Structure varies by federal states with binding character. All statesoffer grades 1–4, Berlin 1– 4 and 1–6, Brandenburg 1–6.2 The Netherlands does not have a national reading curriculum that covers readingin the fourth grade. The Ministry of Education imposes a number of attainmenttargets students should reach before they enter secondary school at age 12. Freedomof education, guaranteed under article 23 of the Constitution, allows schools todetermine their own educational content and how to attain these targets.14