Accuracy of the DIBELS Oral Reading Fluency Measure for Predicting Third Grade Reading Comprehension Outcomes

A Longitudinal Exploration of the Relationship Between Oral Reading Fluency and Reading Comprehension Achievement Among a Sample of Diverse Young Learners

“…White, 36% African American, 23% Latino, 3% Multiracial, 1.5% Asian, and less than 1% Native American (Roehrig et al, 2008). The Roehrig et al sample reflected an African American subgroup of 36%, which was 29% greater than the African American subgroup of 7% that was reflected in the earlier Buck and Torgesen sample.…”

“…Several recent research studies have confirmed some predictive ability of oral reading fluency assessment measures toward achievement on standardized state reading comprehension assessments (Buck & Torgesen, 2002;Hintze & Silberglitt, 2005;Kloo, 2006;Riedel, 2007;Roehrig, Petscher, Nettles, Hudson, & Torgesen, 2008;Uribe-Zarain, 2006). Although some of these studies targeted large populations of students attending higher achieving schools (Buck & Torgesen, 2002;Hintze & Silberglitt, 2005), other studies included smaller populations of students with more diverse demographic backgrounds attending both lower and higher achieving schools and produced significant differences in findings when the data were disaggregated by racial and ethnic diversity (Kloo, 2006;Roehrig et al, 2008;Uribe-Zarain, 2006).…”

“…Many of the studies have confirmed some predictive ability, including Buck and Torgesen's research conducted in Florida (Hintze & Silberglitt, 2005;Kloo, 2006;Riedel, 2007;Roehrig et al, 2008;Uribe-Zarain, 2006). The problem this researcher found is that most of the studies failed either to disaggregate the data according to racial/ethnic demographic student subgroups or secure a large enough sample of students to adequately represent the diverse subgroups.…”

“…Struggling readers deficient in their development of reading fluency, an essential component of reading, must be closely monitored for progress (FCRR, 2009b;NICHD, 2000 (Buck & Torgesen, 2002;Hintze & Silberglitt, 2005;Kloo, 2006;Riedel, 2007;Roehrig, Petscher, Nettles, Hudson, & Torgesen, 2008;Uribe-Zarain, 2006). Many of the studies have confirmed some predictive ability, including Buck and Torgesen's research conducted in Florida (Hintze & Silberglitt, 2005;Kloo, 2006;Riedel, 2007;Roehrig et al, 2008;Uribe-Zarain, 2006).…”

“…Several research studies have highlighted the use of oral reading fluency assessments as predictors of performance on state-mandated, standardized tests of reading comprehension (Buck & Torgesen, 2002;Kloo, 2006;Riedel, 2007;Roehrig, Petscher, Nettles, Hudson, & Torgesen, 2008;Uribe-Zarain, 2006), and found there to be a high correlation of student achievement between these types of assessments. Despite the findings of the Reading First Impact Study: Final Report (Gamse et al, 2008), many states, including Florida, use their own standards-based assessment when measuring student reading achievement that leads to high-stakes decisions regarding student placement and school funding.…”