This document provides grade level reading targets for primary grades in several reading assessment systems, including Fountas & Pinnell, DRA, PM Benchmark Levels, and Rigby Lit. It shows the expected reading level for the end of each grade from Senior Kindergarten to Grade 3. For example, the target for the end of Grade 1 is a Fountas & Pinnell level I, a DRA level 16-18, and a PM Benchmark level of 15-16. The document synthesizes reading targets across different reading level assessment tools.

1. End-of-Year Reading-Level Targets for Primary Grades
Grade Level readinga-z.com Fountas & Pinnell, Alphakids (1996) DRA EIL PM Benchmark Levels Rigby Lit
SK B-C B-C 3-5 [3] 3-5 [3-4]
Grade 1 I I 16-18 [16] 15-16
Grade 2 N-O L-M 24-28 21-22 [23-24]
Grade 3 T P 34-38 26-27 [25]
from A Guide to Effective Instruction in Reading: Kindergarten to Grade 3. (2003). Queen’s Printer, p. 12.51.
[ ] = modification based on http://www.eworkshop.on.ca/edu/pdf/LevellingSystemComparisonChart.pdf
K (readiness) A A, 1 1 Starters 1 1, 2
B, Grade 1 trans, end of K (1) 2 2 Starters 2 3, 4
1, Pre-Primer C, Grade K trans 3 3, 4 3, 4 Red 5
D 4 5, 6 5 Red/6 Yellow 6
E 6, 8 7, 8 7, 8 Yellow 7
1, Primer F 10 9, 10 9, 10 Blue 8
1 G 12 11, 12 11, Blue/12, Green 9
H, Grade 2 trans 14 13.14 13, 14, Green 10
I, Grade 2 trans, end of gr.1 16 15. 16 16, 16, Orange 11
2 J 18 17, 18 17, 18, Turquoise 12
K 20 19, 20 19. 20, Purple 13, 14
L, Grade 3 trans, end of gr. 2 24 21, Gold 15
M. Grade 3 trans 28 22, Gold 16, 17
3 N 30 23, Silver 18
O, Grade 4 trans, end of gr. 3 34 24, Silver 19
P, Grade 4 trans 38 25, Emerald 20
From New Standards Primary Literacy Committee, Available online at www.ncee.org
Reading and Writing Grade by Grade. Pittsburg:
1999, National Center on Education and the University of Pittsburg.