Parents often think that young people entering the workforce are better positioned to succeed if they attend college or another form of postsecondary education. Educators, parents and other mentors begin preparing students with knowledge and skills from an early age and regularly assess their growth in hopes of developing college- and career-ready students. But how can they be sure they are properly positioned?
When my children were young, my pediatrician took regular measurements of my children’s height, weight and head size and plotted them on a growth chart. This was to determine if they were growing as expected but also used to calculate their predicted adult height. Did you know that in a similar way, a student’s reading and math abilities can be used to monitor growth and predict preparedness for college and career, whether it be the enlisted military, four year university, technical school, community college, civic engagement or the workplace?
When our pediatrician took measurements at my children’s regular check ups, a set of standardized measurement tools were used to ensure consistent assessment. MetaMetrics is known for creating consistent measurement scales for reading (The Lexile® Framework for Reading) and mathematics (The Quantile® Framework for Mathematics). These scales have been standardized, much like a yardstick. On the Lexile scale, a student’s Lexile measure represents his or her ability to read text independently, without the help of a parent or teacher. On the Quantile scale, a student’s Quantile measure represents his or her ability to engage with mathematics after initial instruction. The materials from which students are learning are also placed on the same scale. Lexile measures of text refer to the complexity of a book or piece of text; and, Quantile measures of materials describe the difficulty of the mathematical skills and concepts they contain. When the content and the student are placed on the same scale, students are reading books and learning math skills and concepts matched with their ability. Over 35 million students receive Lexile and/or Quantile measures annually across all 50 states and 17 states have adopted these universal frameworks of measurement. Students across 180 countries receive Lexile measures.
These scales are also used as the basis for the Lexile and Quantile Growth Planner Tools. Student’s Lexile and Quantile measures are used to forecast and monitor growth toward college and career readiness at the end of grade 12, a path that begins well before middle or high school. And for students whose forecasted path falls short of this target, there is opportunity to begin discussions of how to further develop the skills needed to help put them back on track.
Learn more about the research behind the Lexile and Quantile Frameworks and college and career readiness.
Once a student’s growth path is plotted, the Career Planner, a feature of the Growth Planner Tool, currently available to select states, can be used to explore career options. The Career Planner compares a selected career with the associated reading and math demands for that career. Other career information such as projected demand, educational requirements and salary information may provide a clearer picture of the career. Such information is a critical component of career exploration and eventual career decision making.
Tracking a student’s growth toward college and career readiness while also identifying specific occupational aspirations provides a strong connection between academic learning and real-world career choices. Perhaps more importantly, students can–alongside their parents and educators– monitor and manage their own growth and planning for their future.
So parents, try forecasting your student’s growth using Lexile and Quantile measures and check out the resources that can assist students in further developing their reading and and math skills. If you think your student needs further help, share this information with a teacher or counselor and ask about tutoring, assistance available at your school and other resources you can use at home.
Visit us to see which state assessments report Lexile and Quantile measures. To encourage your state to report these measures and explore careers, contact your state’s Department of Education.