This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
How are children around the world progressing in terms of their reading knowledge and skills?
PIRLS: Providing an international look at 4th-graders reading achievement
Challenge
The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), supported by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), provides a unique opportunity to compare the reading of U.S. 4th-grade students with that of their peers in countries around the world. PIRLS complements what we learn from national assessments by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of student performance relative to students around the world.
Solution
Responsible for the overall project management and implementation, Westat provides technical support for the sample design and selection, instrument review and adaptation, and data collection for PIRLS. Response of schools, students, and their teachers are integral to the success of a school-based study. Therefore, Westat focuses on gaining the participation of schools, students and their teachers, employing multiple methods for contact to secure cooperation.
To ensure quality of the collection effort, Westat draws upon decades of experience in hiring, training, and supervising field staff in support of large-scale data collection efforts.
Finally, Westat meets the intense timeline for international data release, and developing the national report and associated documentation.
Results
The results of the PIRLS U.S. data, when joined with results from the rest of the world, enable countries to compare performance over time and inform national discussions about education and international competitiveness.
Focus Areas
Education Educational AssessmentCapabilities
Data Collection Data Collection Modes Statistical Methods Survey DesignTopics
Complex Surveys Multimode Data Collection-
Perspective
Collaborating to Enhance Student Success NationwideJanuary 2025
Sharing best practices, creating connections, and collaboratively tackling challenges to improve student success was the purpose of the recent Promise Neighborhoods and Full-Service Community Schools…
-
Expert Interview
Leveraging Paradata and AI to Improve Survey Participation RatesJanuary 2025
The steady decline in survey response rates has been a major concern for many researchers for some time. Low response rates not only erode the…
-
Perspective
Public Health in Action: Westat APHA 2024 HighlightsNovember 2024
Westat staff made their mark at the 2024 American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting and Expo, which was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 27-30.…