Examining the Learning Hierarchy with Accuracy and Rate Scores for Reading Fluency Among Second- and Third-Grade Students

Abstract

Previous research used the learning hierarchy (LH) as a heuristic to select reading interventions based on the level of accuracy defined as the percentage of words read correctly. The current study examined the validity of the LH by reporting the prevalence of reading profiles proposed by the framework: Acquisition phase—inaccurate and slow, Proficiency phase—accurate and slow, and Generalization phase—accurate and fast to determine the extent to which the data could be used to drive reading interventions. The design also included a hypothetical phase of inaccurate and fast, which was not included in the LH. Reading fluency data from 223 second- and third-grade students were compared to accuracy (93%) and rate (national grade-level norms) criteria. When data were classified into the LH phases described above, 44.4% (n = 99) of the students were in the Acquisition phase, 23.8% (n = 53) were in the Proficiency phase, and 31.4% (n = 70) were in the Generalization phase. Less than 1% (n = 1) was in the hypothetical phase of inaccurate and fast, and the rarity of this occurrence was predicted by the LH. These data support the LH as a conceptual framework to drive diagnostic assessment, and the importance of examining accuracy data when designing reading fluency interventions.