The Impact of Reading Fluency on Missouri Assessment Program Performance

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists betweenreading fluency, as measured by scores on the Reading Curriculum Based Measure (RCBM) Benchmark assessments, and student performance, as measured by scale scores onthe Communication Arts Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) assessments. Asecondary purpose of this study was to determine if grade level, gender, race/ethnicity,and socio-economic status affected the relationship between reading fluency and studentperformance. A quantitative non-experimental correlational research design was used forthis study in which the researcher analyzed archival data to compare R-CBM Benchmarkscale scores, the independent variable, with MAP Communication Arts scale scores, thedependent variable. The moderator variables were grade level, gender, race/ethnicity,and socio-economic status. The population for this study included students in grades 3through 5 from five elementary schools within a Missouri school district. The sample forthis study (N = 885) included students enrolled in the selected Missouri school districtduring the 2010-2011 school year. Results indicated there is a statistically significantrelationship between reading fluency, as measured by R-CBM Benchmark scale scoresand student performance, as measured by MAP Communication Arts scale scores. Asreading fluency scores increase, the student performance scores on the MAPCommunication Arts also increase. Results indicated that the relationship betweenreading fluency and student performance is not affected by grade, gender, and socioeconomic status. The results also indicated a marginally statistically significantdifference does exist when comparing the relationship between R-CBM Benchmark scalescores and the MAP Communication Arts scale scores of Black students with the relationship between R-CBM Benchmark scale scores and MAP Communication Artsscale scores of White students. Recommendations for further research include replicatingthe study to include the online fixed-form MAP English Language Arts assessment andextending the study to include students in grades 6 through 8.