International Reading Achievement: Insights into Policy and Practice Using PISA/PIRLS Data

Trends in reading achievement are measured internationally by two large scale assessments.

Recent presentations from IRA's PISA-PIRLS Task Force

PISA 2009: A Critical Analysis of Trends and Developments with Implications for Adolescent Literacy Practice and Policy (PowerPoint), presented at the International Reading Association Annual Convention, May 2011 in Orlando, Florida, USA
Key Findings on PISA 2009: Implications for Literacy Policy and Practice (PowerPoint), presented at the 17th European Conference on Reading, August 2011 in Mons, Belgium
Reading Literacy in PISA 2009: A Guide for Teachers (PDF), a report co-authored by Task Force member Gary Shiel and a team of researchers at the Educational Research Centre at Saint Patrick's College, Dublin, Ireland

Professional Development Guides

IRA’s PISA/PIRLS Task Force developed these documents to guide informed discussion by national affiliates about trends in reading achievement.

Introduction: Using PISA/PIRLS Data for Informed Discussion (PowerPoint)
Classroom factors overview, discussion leader’s guide, and context questions (PowerPoint)
School factors overview, discussion leader’s guide, and context questions (PowerPoint)
Individual, home, and community factors overview, discussion leader’s guide, and context questions (PowerPoint)

PIRLS

PIRLS (Progress in International Literacy Study) assesses levels of reading achievement among 9-to-10 year olds, and provides data on literacy influences in the home, school, and classroom. PIRLS is administered on a five-year cycle, and reports are available for 2001 and 2006.

PISA

PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) assesses reading, mathematics, and science knowledge and skills among 15 year olds. PISA is administered on a three-year cycle Each administration includes assessments of all three subjects, but assesses one of the subjects in depth. The most recent administration was in 2006 and focused on science literacy. Reading achievement was the primary focus in 2000 and will be the focus again in 2009.

IRA PISA/PIRLS Task Force 2003 summary
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
Literacy skills for the word of tomorrow (PowerPoint file), a presentation by Andreas Schleicher about PISA/PIRLS results and implications, given at the 2006 World Congress on Reading.
Children’s rights to literacy: How well are they realized in the United States? (PowerPoint file), a presentation by Renate Valtin at IRA’s 2008 annual convention.