Kentucky has adopted The Lexile Framework for Reading and The Quantile Framework for Mathematics, two measurement systems designed to provide instructional information to teachers, students and parents and enable accurate tailoring of instructional materials and intervention systems to benefit students.

Both the Lexile and Quantile Frameworks were developed by MetaMetrics, an educational measurement and research organization based in Durham, N.C. Lexile and Quantile measures will be linked with the results of the Kentucky Core Content Tests’ (KCCT) reading and mathematics assessments administered to the state’s public school students each spring. Students’ Lexile and Quantile measures will be included on KCCT score reports that parents receive in the 2011-12 school year.

The Lexile Framework is a unique resource for accurately matching readers with text. It measures a student’s reading ability based on actual assessments, rather than a generalized age or grade level. Lexile measures allow teachers, librarians and families to find books, articles and other materials that will challenge a student’s reading ability, while still maintaining interest and learning. Recognized as the most widely adopted reading metric, more than 30 million Lexile measures are reported annually from reading assessments and programs, representing over half of U.S. students.

A Lexile measure can range from below 200L for beginning readers and beginning-reading text to above 1700L for advanced readers and text. A book, article or other text gets a Lexile measure when it’s analyzed by MetaMetrics. A Lexile text measure is based on two strong predictors of how difficult the text is to comprehend: word frequency and sentence length.

Teachers, parents and students may access the free “Find a Book, Kentucky” search tool to look up the Lexile measure of a book and to build custom reading lists that match a student’s reading level and needs, and then locate their selections at the local library. In many school and public libraries, Lexile measures are included in their catalog systems. School librarians will not be required to label books with Lexile measures.

The Quantile Framework is a scientific approach to measurement that locates a student’s ability to think mathematically and solve problems in an orderly classification of math skills, concepts and applications. As with Lexile measures, Quantile measures enable tailoring of instructional materials and intervention systems to individual student’s needs. A Quantile measure is depicted with a number followed by the letter “Q” (as a Lexile measure is followed by an “L”). The Quantile Framework spans the developmental continuum from kindergarten mathematics through the content typically taught in Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry and Pre-calculus — from Emerging Mathematician (OQ and below) to above 1400Q.

By connecting students’ Quantile measures to Quantile-leveled resources, the Quantile Framework provides educators with information from mathematics assessments and diagnostic tools that they can use to target instruction, forecast understanding and improve mathematics achievement.

Free Quantile resources for educators and families are available. Math@Home helps parents support their children’s mathematical development by connecting them with family-friendly activities targeted to their Quantile measures. The Quantile Teacher Assistant supports differentiated instruction by providing access to resources on specific mathematical skills and concepts that are aligned with state and the Common Core Academic Standards.