1

Appendix A

PIRLS 2016 Field Test & Main Study Consent and Recruitment Materials

Contents

PIRLS Field Test Sample Notification Letter..........................................................................................................................2

PIRLS Field Test Sample Implicit Consent Letter...................................................................................................................3

PIRLS Implicit Consent Form.................................................................................................................................................4

PIRLS Field Test Sample Explicit Consent Letter...................................................................................................................5

PIRLS Explicit Consent Form .................................................................................................................................................6

PIRLS Facts for Parents about the Field Test ........................................................................................................................7

PIRLS 2016 Main Study Sample Notification Letter..............................................................................................................8

PIRLS 2016 Main Study Sample Implicit Consent Letter.......................................................................................................9

PIRLS 2016 Main Study Implicit Consent Form:..................................................................................................................10

PIRLS 2016 Main Study Sample Explicit Consent Letter.....................................................................................................11

PIRLS 2016 Main Study Explicit Consent Form ...................................................................................................................12

PIRLS Facts for Parents about the Main Study ...................................................................................................................13

State Field Test Letter.........................................................................................................................................................14

School District PIRLS Field Test Letter ................................................................................................................................16

School PIRLS Field Test Letter.............................................................................................................................................16

PIRLS Field Test Letter to School Coordinator....................................................................................................................17

PIRLS School Coordinator Responsibilities .........................................................................................................................18

Administrator Questionnaire PIRLS Field Test Letter.........................................................................................................21

Teacher Questionnaire PIRLS Field Test Letter...................................................................................................................22

PIRLS 2016 Study Brochure Content: 8 1⁄2 X 11in Tri-fold ...................................................................................................23

PIRLS Field Test FAQ ...........................................................................................................................................................25

Summary of School Activities: PIRLS Field Test..................................................................................................................27

State PIRLS Main Study Letter............................................................................................................................................29

School District PIRLS Main Study Letter .............................................................................................................................30

School PIRLS Main Study Letter..........................................................................................................................................31

PIRLS 2016 Main Study Letter to School Coordinator........................................................................................................32

PIRLS School Coordinator Responsibilities .........................................................................................................................33

Administrator Questionnaire PIRLS Main Study Letter......................................................................................................36

Teacher Questionnaire PIRLS Main Study Letter................................................................................................................37

PIRLS 2016 Study Brochure Content: 8 1⁄2 X 11in Tri-fold ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

PIRLS 2016 Main Study FAQ ...............................................................................................................................................40

Summary of School Activities: PIRLS 2016 Main Study ......................................................................................................42
2

PIRLS Field	Test	Sample	Notification	Letter

SCHOOL LETTERHEAD

Dear Parent or Guardian,

This letter is to inform you about an important international study of student learning being conducted in our 

school this spring. The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) provides important information 

for benchmarking student performance in reading in the United States against countries around the world. Since 

2001, PIRLS has measured worldwide trends in student reading skills at grade 4. The next PIRLS assessment will 

be in the spring of 2016.

Each time the PIRLS is done, new questions need to be developed and tested to ensure that those questions 

accurately measure the knowledge and skills of students. In spring 2015, new PIRLS questions will be tested in 

approximately 25 schools in the United States. This field test will allow test developers to modify or delete 

questions that are not reliable and fair across participating countries.

Our school has accepted an invitation from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. 

Department of Education, to participate in the PIRLS field test. {Insert number} of our 4th grade classes will take 

part. {This/One of these} is your child’s class. The enclosed summary sheet provides some background 

information about PIRLS, explains what is involved for each student selected to participate in the study, and gives 

a contact phone number and email address where you can find answers to any questions you might have.

To have an accurate picture of what U.S. 4th graders can do in reading, it is important that each student selected 

take part in the study. In addition to answering reading questions, students will be asked to complete a brief 

questionnaire about themselves. I urge you to support this effort by encouraging your child to take part; however, 

participation in this study is entirely voluntary. Previous experience suggests that students actually enjoy taking 

part, and participating students will receive a small gift, which we think they will like.

Additionally, parents of participating students will receive a survey which asks about their child’s early learning 

experiences. The information that is collected will be useful in helping understand how young children learn to 

read and help improve the teaching and learning of reading for all children. Parents whose student participates in

the study and who complete the parent survey will receive $20 for participating.

All of the information collected is safeguarded, as required by law. NCES is authorized to conduct this study 

under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA, 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). Under that law, the data 

provided by schools, staff, parents, and students may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be 

disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C., § 9573). 

Students, parents, and schools are never identified in any reports. All reported statistics refer to the United States 

as a whole.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about this important study.

Sincerely,

[School Official]

Enclosures:

Facts for Parents about the PIRLS Field Test
3

PIRLS Field	Test	Sample	Implicit	Consent Letter

SCHOOL LETTERHEAD

Dear Parent or Guardian,

This letter is to inform you about an important international study of student learning being conducted in our 

school this spring. The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) provides important information 

for benchmarking student performance in reading in the United States against countries around the world. Since 

2001, PIRLS has measured worldwide trends in student reading skills at grade 4. The next PIRLS assessment will 

be in the spring of 2016.

Each time the PIRLS is done, new questions need to be developed and tested to ensure that those questions 

accurately measure the knowledge and skills of students. In spring 2015, new PIRLS questions will be tested in 

approximately 25 schools in the United States. This field test will allow test developers to modify or delete 

questions that are not reliable and fair across participating countries.

Our school has accepted an invitation from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. 

Department of Education, to participate in the PIRLS field test. {Insert number} of our 4th grade classes will take 

part. {This/One of these} is your child’s class. The enclosed summary sheet provides some background 

information about PIRLS, explains what is involved for each student selected to participate in the study, and gives 

a contact phone number and email address where you can find answers to any questions you might have.

To have an accurate picture of what U.S. 4th graders can do in reading, it is important that each student selected 

take part in the study. In addition to answering reading questions, students will be asked to complete a brief 

questionnaire about themselves. I urge you to support this effort by encouraging your child to take part; however, 

participation in this study is entirely voluntary. Previous experience suggests that students actually enjoy taking 

part, and participating students will receive a small gift, which we think they will like.

Additionally, parents of participating students will receive a survey which asks about their child’s early learning 

experiences. The information that is collected will be useful in helping understand how young children learn to 

read and help improve the teaching and learning of reading for all children. Parents whose student participates in 

the study and who complete the parent survey will receive $20 for participating.

All of the information collected is safeguarded, as required by law. NCES is authorized to conduct this study 

under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA, 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). Under that law, the data 

provided by schools, staff, parents, and students may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be 

disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C., § 9573). 

Students, parents, and schools are never identified in any reports. All reported statistics refer to the United States 

as a whole.

If you have any objection to your child joining in the PIRLS activities, please let us know by completing the 

attached consent form and returning it to the school.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about this important study.

Sincerely,

[School Official]

Enclosures:

Facts for Parents about the PIRLS Field Test

Parent/Guardian Consent Form
4

PIRLS Implicit	Consent	Form

Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)

Field Test

Parent/Guardian Consent Form

Your child has been asked to participate in a field test of an international study of student learning called the 

Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). Each student who participates will receive a small gift. 

Additionally, parents/guardians of participating students will be eligible to fill out a parent/guardian survey and 

will receive $20 for its completion.

The student assessment will be administered by a team of researchers from RTI International, on behalf of the 

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). In spring 2015, new questions will be tested in approximately 25 

schools in the United States in preparation for the 2016 international study. This field test will allow test 

developers to modify or delete questions that are not reliable or fair.

If you grant permission for your child to participate in the PIRLS field test, you do not need to return this 

form.

If you do not consent to your child’s participation in the PIRLS field test, please return this form to your 

child’s school as soon as possible.

I do not grant permission for my child, _______________________________, to participate in the Progress in 

International Reading Literacy Study Field Test.

__________________________________________________________________

(Signature of parent or guardian)

Date of signature: _______/_______/____________

PLEASE PRINT:

Student name: _____________________________________________

School name: ______________________________________________

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY:

Student ID: ________________________________________________
5

PIRLS Field	Test	Sample	Explicit	Consent	Letter

SCHOOL LETTERHEAD

Dear Parent or Guardian,

This letter is to inform you about an important international study of student learning being conducted in our 

school this spring. The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) provides important information 

for benchmarking student performance in reading in the United States against countries around the world. Since 

2001, PIRLS has measured worldwide trends in student reading skills at grade 4. The next PIRLS assessment will 

be in the spring of 2016.

Each time the PIRLS is done, new questions need to be developed and tested to ensure that those questions 

accurately measure the knowledge and skills of students. In spring 2015, new PIRLS questions will be tested in 

approximately 25 schools in the United States. This field test will allow test developers to modify or delete 

questions that are not reliable and fair across participating countries.

Our school has accepted an invitation from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. 

Department of Education, to participate in the PIRLS field test. {Insert number} of our 4th grade classes will take 

part. {This/One of these} is your child’s class. The enclosed summary sheet provides some background 

information about PIRLS, explains what is involved for each student selected to participate in the study, and gives 

a contact phone number and email address where you can find answers to any questions you might have.

To have an accurate picture of what U.S. 4th graders can do in reading, it is important that each student selected 

take part in the study. In addition to answering reading questions, students will be asked to complete a brief 

questionnaire about themselves. I urge you to support this effort by encouraging your child to take part; however, 

participation in this study is entirely voluntary. Previous experience suggests that students actually enjoy taking 

part, and participating students will receive a small gift, which we think they will like.

Additionally, parents of participating students will receive a survey which asks about their child’s early learning 

experiences. The information that is collected will be useful in helping understand how young children learn to 

read and help improve the teaching and learning of reading for all children. Parents whose student participates in 

the study and who complete the parent survey will receive $20 for participating.

All of the information collected is safeguarded, as required by law. NCES is authorized to conduct this study 

under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA, 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). Under that law, the data 

provided by schools, staff, parents, and students may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be 

disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C., § 9573). 

Students, parents, and schools are never identified in any reports. All reported statistics refer to the United States 

as a whole.

Before we can allow your child to join in the PIRLS activities, we must have your written consent. Please let us 

know by completing the attached form and returning it to the school.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about this important study and to consider your child’s participation in it.

Sincerely,

[School Official]

Enclosures: Facts for Parents about the PIRLS Field Test

Parent/Guardian Consent Form
6

PIRLS Explicit	Consent	Form

Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)

Field Test

Parent/Guardian Consent Form

Your child has been asked to participate in a field test of an international study of student learning called the 

Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). Each student who participates will receive a small gift. 

Additionally, parents/guardians of participating students will be eligible to fill out a parent/guardian survey and 

will receive $20 for its completion.

The student assessment will be administered by a team of researchers from RTI International, on behalf of the 

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). In spring 2015, new questions will be tested in approximately 25 

schools in the United States in preparation for the 2016 international study. This field test will allow test 

developers to modify or delete questions that are not reliable or fair.

Yes, I grant permission for my child to participate in the PIRLS field test.

No, I do not grant permission for my child to participate in the PIRLS field test.

__________________________________________________________________

(Signature of parent or guardian)

Date of signature: _______/_______/____________

PLEASE PRINT:

Student name: _____________________________________________

School name: ______________________________________________

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY:

Student ID: ________________________________________________
7

PIRLS Facts	for	Parents	about the	Field	Test

Facts for Parents

About the PIRLS Field Test

Between March and April of this year, your child’s school will be one of about 25 nationwide taking part in the 

PIRLS Field Test. Within each school, 4

th grade classrooms were selected randomly to represent the nation’s 4th

graders. All students from selected classrooms are invited to participate, and your child was among those students 

selected to take part in the PIRLS field test.

What is PIRLS?

PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) is an international assessment that measures student 

learning in reading. Every five years since 2001, PIRLS documents worldwide trends in the reading knowledge of 

4

th graders. The National Center for Education Statistics within the U.S. Department of Education sponsors U.S. 

participation in PIRLS. Along with more than 40 other nations, the U.S. will take part in the 2016 PIRLS cycle as 

we did in 2001, 2006, and 2011.

What is the purpose of the PIRLS Field Test?

Each time the study is done, new assessment questions need to be developed and tested to ensure that those 

questions accurately measure the knowledge and skills of students. This field test will allow test developers to 

modify or delete questions that are not reliable and fair for students in the United States.

What is involved?

PIRLS staff will visit the school and administer the study. The study will take approximately 2 hours. The 

assessment itself is 80 minutes with breaks between sections. Students will also be asked questions about 

themselves and their educational experience. Parents of participating students will be given a survey about what 

they think about their child’s schooling as it relates to reading and their early learning experiences.

What are the benefits?

The nation as a whole benefits from PIRLS by having a greater understanding of how the reading knowledge and 

skills of U.S. 4th graders compare with 4th graders from other countries. The country benefits from the field test by 

ensuring that the questions used in the main study are fair and appropriate for U.S. students. Schools that 

participate in PIRLS will receive [$200 OR two iPad minis], and each student who participates will receive a small 

gift. Additionally, parents whose student participates in the study and who complete the parent survey will receive 

$20 for participating.

Who administers PIRLS?

The entire assessment is administered by trained staff from RTI International, a research organization under 

contract to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics.

All of the information collected is safeguarded, as required by law. NCES is authorized to conduct this study 

under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA, 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). Under that law, the data 

provided by schools, staff, parents, and students may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be 

disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C., § 9573). 

Students, parents, and schools are never identified in any reports. All reported statistics refer to the United States 

as a whole.

Where can I find out more about PIRLS?

More information about PIRLS is available at the PIRLS website at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pirls/index.asp or 

the PIRLS International Study Center website at http://pirls.org/ . Or if you like to contact a PIRLS staff member 

directly, please feel free to call the PIRLS hotline at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or email us at PIRLS@rti.org.
8

PIRLS 2016 Main	Study Sample	Notification	Letter

SCHOOL LETTERHEAD

Dear Parent or Guardian,

This letter is to inform you about an important international study of student learning being conducted in our 

school this spring. The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) provides important information 

for benchmarking student performance in reading in the United States against countries around the world. Since 

2001, PIRLS has measured worldwide trends in student reading skills at grade 4. The next PIRLS assessment will 

be in the spring of 2016.

Our school has accepted an invitation from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. 

Department of Education, to participate in the PIRLS main study. {Insert number} of our 4th grade classes will 

take part. {This/One of these} is your child’s class. The enclosed summary sheet provides some background 

information about PIRLS, explains what is involved for each student selected to participate in the study, and gives 

a contact phone number and email address where you can find answers to any questions you might have.

To have an accurate picture of what U.S. 4th graders can do in reading, it is important that each student selected 

take part in the study. In addition to answering reading questions, students will be asked to complete a brief 

questionnaire about themselves. I urge you to support this effort by encouraging your child to take part; however, 

participation in this study is entirely voluntary. Previous experience suggests that students actually enjoy taking 

part, and participating students will receive a small gift, which we think they will like.

Additionally, parents of participating students will receive a survey which asks about their child’s early learning 

experiences. The information that is collected will be useful in helping understand how young children learn to 

read and help improve the teaching and learning of reading for all children. Parents whose student participates in 

the study and who complete the parent survey will receive $20 for participating.

All of the information collected is safeguarded, as required by law. NCES is authorized to conduct this study 

under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA, 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). Under that law, the data 

provided by schools, staff, parents, and students may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be 

disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C., § 9573). 

Students, parents, and schools are never identified in any reports. All reported statistics refer to the United States 

as a whole.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about this important study.

Sincerely,

[School official]

Enclosures:

Facts for Parents about the PIRLS 2016 Main Study
9

PIRLS 2016 Main	Study Sample	Implicit	Consent	Letter

SCHOOL LETTERHEAD

Dear Parent or Guardian,

This letter is to inform you about an important international study of student learning being conducted in our 

school this spring. The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) provides important information 

for benchmarking student performance in reading in the United States against countries around the world. Since 

2001, PIRLS has measured worldwide trends in student reading skills at grade 4. The next PIRLS assessment will 

be in the spring of 2016.

Our school has accepted an invitation from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. 

Department of Education, to participate in the PIRLS main study. {Insert number} of our 4th grade classes will 

take part. {This/One of these} is your child’s class. The enclosed summary sheet provides some background 

information about PIRLS, explains what is involved for each student selected to participate in the study, and gives 

a contact phone number and email address where you can find answers to any questions you might have.

To have an accurate picture of what U.S. 4th graders can do in reading, it is important that each student selected 

take part in the study. In addition to answering reading questions, students will be asked to complete a brief 

questionnaire about themselves. I urge you to support this effort by encouraging your child to take part; however, 

participation in this study is entirely voluntary. Previous experience suggests that students actually enjoy taking 

part, and participating students will receive a small gift, which we think they will like.

Additionally, parents of participating students will receive a survey which asks about their child’s early learning 

experiences. The information that is collected will be useful in helping understand how young children learn to 

read and help improve the teaching and learning of reading for all children. Parents whose student participates in 

the study and who complete the parent survey will receive $20 for participating.

All of the information collected is safeguarded, as required by law. NCES is authorized to conduct this study 

under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA, 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). Under that law, the data 

provided by schools, staff, parents, and students may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be 

disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C., § 9573). 

Students, parents, and schools are never identified in any reports. All reported statistics refer to the United States 

as a whole.

If you have any objection to your child joining in the PIRLS activities, please let us know by completing the 

attached consent form and returning it to the school.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about this important study.

Sincerely,

[School Official]

Enclosures:

Facts for Parents about the PIRLS 2016 Main Study

Parent/Guardian Consent Form
10

PIRLS 2016	Main	Study	Implicit	Consent	Form:

Progress in Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)

Main Study

Parent/Guardian Consent Form

Your child has been asked to participate in an international study of student learning called the Progress in 

International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). Each student who participates will receive a small gift. Additionally, 

parents/guardians of participating students will be eligible to fill out a parent/guardian survey and will receive $20 

for its completion.

The student assessment will be administered by a team of researchers from RTI International, on behalf of the 

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

If you grant permission for your child to participate in the 2016 PIRLS, you do not need to return this 

form.

If you do not consent to your child’s participation in the 2016 PIRLS, please return this form to your 

child’s school as soon as possible.

I do not grant permission for my child, _______________________________, to participate in the Progress in 

International Reading Literacy Study Main Study.

__________________________________________________________________

(Signature of parent or guardian)

Date of signature: _______/_______/____________

PLEASE PRINT:

Student name: _____________________________________________

School name: ______________________________________________

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY:

Student ID: ________________________________________________
11

PIRLS 2016 Main	Study Sample	Explicit Consent	Letter

SCHOOL LETTERHEAD

Dear Parent or Guardian,

This letter is to inform you about an important international study of student learning being conducted in our 

school this spring. The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) provides important information 

for benchmarking student performance in reading in the United States against countries around the world. Since 

2001, PIRLS has measured worldwide trends in student reading skills at grade 4. The next PIRLS assessment will 

be in the spring of 2016.

Our school has accepted an invitation from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. 

Department of Education, to participate in the PIRLS main study. {Insert number} of our 4th grade classes will 

take part. {This/One of these} is your child’s class. The enclosed summary sheet provides some background 

information about PIRLS, explains what is involved for each student selected to participate in the study, and gives 

a contact phone number and email address where you can find answers to any questions you might have.

To have an accurate picture of what U.S. 4th graders can do in reading, it is important that each student selected 

take part in the study. In addition to answering reading questions, students will be asked to complete a brief 

questionnaire about themselves. I urge you to support this effort by encouraging your child to take part; however, 

participation in this study is entirely voluntary. Previous experience suggests that students actually enjoy taking 

part, and participating students will receive a small gift, which we think they will like.

Additionally, parents of participating students will receive a survey which asks about their child’s early learning 

experiences. The information that is collected will be useful in helping understand how young children learn to 

read and help improve the teaching and learning of reading for all children. Parents whose student participates in 

the study and who complete the parent survey will receive $20 for participating.

All of the information collected is safeguarded, as required by law. NCES is authorized to conduct this study 

under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA, 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). Under that law, the data 

provided by schools, staff, parents, and students may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be 

disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C., § 9573). 

Students, parents, and schools are never identified in any reports. All reported statistics refer to the United States 

as a whole.

Before we can allow your child to join in the PIRLS activities, we must have your written consent. Please let us 

know by completing the attached form and returning it to the school.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about this important study and to consider your child’s participation in it.

Sincerely,

[School Official]

Enclosures:

Facts for Parents about the PIRLS 2016 Main Study

Parent/Guardian Consent Form
12

PIRLS	2016	Main	Study	Explicit	Consent	Form

Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)

Main Study

Parent/Guardian Consent Form

Your child has been asked to participate in an international study of student learning called the Progress in 

International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). Each student who participates will receive a small gift. Additionally, 

parents/guardians of participating students will be eligible to fill out a parent/guardian survey and will receive $20 

for its completion.

The student assessment will be administered by a team of researchers from RTI International, on behalf of the 

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Yes I grant permission for my child to participate in the 2016 PIRLS.

No, I do not grant permission for my child to participate in the 2016 PIRLS.

__________________________________________________________________

(Signature of parent or guardian)

Date of signature: _______/_______/____________

PLEASE PRINT:

Student name: _____________________________________________

School name: ______________________________________________

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY:

Student ID: ________________________________________________
13

PIRLS	Facts	for	Parents	about the	Main	Study

Facts for Parents

About the PIRLS Main Study

Between February and May of this year, your child’s school will be one of about 150 nationwide taking part in the 

PIRLS 2016 Main Study. The schools were selected randomly to represent the nation’s schools with 4

th grade 

students. Within each school, 4

th grade classrooms were selected randomly to represent the nation’s 4th graders. All 

students from selected classrooms are invited to participate, and your child was among those students selected to 

take part in the PIRLS main study.

What is PIRLS?

PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) is an international assessment that measures student 

learning in reading. Every five years since 2001, PIRLS documents worldwide trends in the reading knowledge of 

4

th graders. The National Center for Education Statistics within the U.S. Department of Education sponsors U.S. 

participation in PIRLS. Along with more than 40 other nations, the U.S. will take part in the 2016 PIRLS cycle as 

we did in 2001, 2006, and 2011.

What is involved?

PIRLS staff will visit the school and administer the main study. The main study will take approximately 2 hours.

The assessment itself is 80 minutes with breaks between sections. Students will also be asked questions about 

themselves and their educational experience. Parents of participating students will be given a survey about what 

they think about their child’s schooling as it relates to reading and their early learning experiences.

What are the benefits?

The nation as a whole benefits from PIRLS by having a greater understanding of how the reading knowledge and 

skills of U.S. 4th graders compare with 4th graders from other countries. Schools that participate in PIRLS will 

receive [$200 OR two iPad minis], and each student who participates will receive a small gift. Additionally, parents 

whose student participates in the study and who complete the parent survey will receive $20 for participating.

Who administers PIRLS?

The entire assessment is administered by trained staff from RTI International, a research organization under 

contract to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics.

All of the information collected is safeguarded, as required by law. NCES is authorized to conduct this study 

under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA, 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). Under that law, the data 

provided by schools, staff, parents, and students may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be 

disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C., § 9573). 

Students, parents, and schools are never identified in any reports. All reported statistics refer to the United States 

as a whole.

Where can I find out more about PIRLS?

More information about PIRLS is available at the PIRLS website at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pirls/index.asp or 

the PIRLS International Study Center website at http://pirls.org/ . Or if you like to contact a PIRLS staff member 

directly, please feel free to call the PIRLS hotline at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or email us at PIRLS@rti.org.
14

State	Field	Test	Letter

[Date]

[Title] [Name First] [Name Last]

[Title/Department]

[State]

[Address 1]

[Address 2]

[City], [State] [Zip code]

Dear [Title] [Name Last]:

The United States is participating in an important international study in 2016: the Progress in International 

Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). Since 2001, PIRLS has measured trends in reading achievement at grade 4 in 

countries around the world, including the United States. Results from PIRLS are used by researchers and 

policymakers to chart national progress against international standards and other countries around the world, 

informing national discussions about international competitiveness.

Some schools in your state have been randomly selected to participate in the international field test for PIRLS in 

the spring of 2015. I am writing to ask your agency to support the participation of those schools in the field test.

The purpose of the field test is both to determine whether new questions are valid and fair for U.S. students and 

to help ensure that PIRLS field operations will be effective for the main study in 2016.

PIRLS is described in more detail in the enclosed materials. In the United States, PIRLS is conducted by the 

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education, and the data are 

being collected by RTI International. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved the data 

collection under OMB # 1850-0645. For information on the confidentiality of the data collected, please see the 

enclosed FAQ. While participation in this study is voluntary, your support of school participation in your state is 

invaluable so that the United States has a representative sample of schools across the country.

Within the next few weeks, a representative of RTI International will contact sampled school districts and schools 

to discuss participating in the field test. In the meantime, if you have questions about the study, please do not 

hesitate to call Dr. Patricia Green at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or send an email to PIRLS@rti.org. You may also get 

more information about this study by contacting Dr. Sheila Thompson at NCES at (202) 502-7425 or 

sheila.thompson@ed.gov, or by visiting the PIRLS website at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/PIRLS.

Thank you for your time and support of this important international study.

Sincerely,

John Q. Easton

Director, Institute of Education Sciences

Acting Commissioner, NCES

cc: [State assessment director]

Enclosures

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). By law, the data provided by schools, staff, 

parents, and students may only be used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. § 

9573).
15

School	District	Field	Test	Letter

[Date]

[Title] [Name First] [Name Last], [Title/Department]

[School District]

[Address 1]

[City], [State] [Zip code]

Dear [Title] [Name Last]:

The United States is participating in an important international study in 2016: the Progress in International Reading 

Literacy Study (PIRLS). Since 2001, PIRLS has measured trends in reading achievement at grade 4 in countries around 

the world, including the United States. Results from PIRLS are used by researchers and policymakers to chart national 

progress against international standards and other countries around the world, informing national discussions about 

international competitiveness.

One or more schools in your district have been randomly selected to participate in the PIRLS field test in the spring of 

2015. I am writing to ask your agency to support the participation of those selected schools. The purpose of the PIRLS 

field test is both to determine whether new questions are valid and fair for U.S. students and to help ensure that PIRLS 

field operations will be effective for the main study in 2016. Participating schools will receive [$200 OR 2 iPad minis], 

and each school’s PIRLS school coordinator (the school staff person designated to work with PIRLS staff) will receive 

$100 as a thank you for his or her time and effort. The school coordinator may also receive an additional monetary 

token of appreciation of up to $100 for actively contacting parents and encouraging their and their student’s 

participation in the study. This additional amount is based on the response rate threshold and is in addition to the initial 

$100 for coordinating the in-school PIRLS administration. A school administrator and selected teachers will each be 

asked to complete a questionnaire. Teachers will receive $20 as a thank you for completing the questionnaire. Each 

student who participates will receive a small gift as a token of appreciation. Parents whose student participates in the 

study and who complete the parent survey will receive $20 for participating.

PIRLS is described in more detail in the enclosed materials. In the United States, PIRLS is conducted by the National 

Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education, and the data are being collected by 

RTI International. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved the data collection under OMB # 1850-

0645. For information on the confidentiality of the data collected, please see the enclosed FAQ. While participation in 

this study is voluntary, your support of school participation in your district is invaluable so that the United States has a 

representative sample of schools across the country.

Within the next few days, a representative of RTI International will contact the following school or schools in your 

district that have been selected for the field test: [LIST SAMPLED SCHOOLS HERE...].

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Dr. Patricia Green at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or send an email to 

PIRLS@rti.org. You may also get more information about this study by contacting Dr. Sheila Thompson at NCES at 

(202) 502-7425 or sheila.thompson@ed.gov, or by visiting the PIRLS website at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/PIRLS.

Thank you for your time and support of this important international study.

John Q. Easton

Director, Institute of Education Sciences

Acting Commissioner, NCES

Enclosures

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). By law, the data provided by schools, staff, 

parents, and students may only be used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. § 

9573).
16

School	PIRLS	Field	Test	Letter

[Date]

[Title] [Name First] [Name Last], [Title/Department]

[School District]

[Address 1]

[City], [State] [Zip code]

Dear [Title] [Name Last]:

The United States is participating in an important international study in 2016: the Progress in International Reading 

Literacy Study (PIRLS). Since 2001, PIRLS has measured trends in reading achievement at grade 4 in countries around 

the world, including the United States. Results from PIRLS are used by researchers and policymakers to chart national 

progress against international standards and other countries around the world, informing national discussions about 

international competitiveness.

In preparation for the 2016 assessment, the United States is participating in a field test in the spring of 2015. The 

purpose of the field test is both to try out new questions and to help ensure that operational procedures will be 

effective in the 2016 assessment. Your school has been randomly selected to participate in the PIRLS field test 

this spring. Participating schools will receive [$200 OR 2 iPad minis], and each school’s PIRLS school coordinator (the 

school staff person designated to work with PIRLS staff) will receive $100 as a thank you for his or her time and effort.

The school coordinator may also receive an additional monetary token of appreciation of up to $100 for actively 

contacting parents and encouraging their and their student’s participation in the study. This additional amount is based 

on the response rate threshold and is in addition to the initial $100 for coordinating the in-school PIRLS 

administration. A school administrator and selected teachers will each be asked to complete a questionnaire. Teachers 

will receive $20 as a thank you for completing the questionnaire. Participating students will receive a small gift as a 

token of appreciation. Parents whose student participates in the study and who complete the parent survey will receive 

$20 for participating.

PIRLS is described in more detail in the enclosed materials. In the United States, PIRLS is conducted by the National 

Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education, and the data are being collected by 

RTI International. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved the data collection under OMB #1850-

0645. For information on the confidentiality of the data collected, please see the enclosed FAQ. While participation in 

this study is voluntary, your school’s participation is invaluable so that the United States has a representative sample of 

schools across the country.

Within the next few days, a representative of RTI International will contact you to discuss your participation. If you 

have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Dr. Patricia Green at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or send an email to 

PIRLS@rti.org. You may also get more information about this study by contacting Dr. Sheila Thompson at NCES at 

(202) 502-7425 or sheila.thompson@ed.gov, or by visiting the PIRLS website at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/PIRLS.

Your participation in the field test for PIRLS 2016 is very important to its success. Thank you for your time and for 

supporting this important international study.

John Q. Easton

Director, Institute of Education Sciences

Acting Commissioner, NCES

Enclosures

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). By law, the data provided by your school, 

staff, parents, and students may only be used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 

U.S.C. § 9573).
17

PIRLS	Field	Test	Letter	to	School	Coordinator

DATE

«sch_entity_name»

«sch_address»

«sch_citystzip»

Dear «sch_coord_name»,

We are looking forward to working with you and your school this school year on the Progress in International 

Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). As the designated school coordinator for PIRLS you play a critical role in 

assisting us with study preparations. We appreciate your assistance, particularly given the many demands on your 

time.

The attached document, PIRLS School Coordinator Responsibilities, will provide you with an overview of PIRLS, 

as well as a list of tasks and timeline needed to prepare for PIRLS data collection. The first step is to provide a list 

of the 4th grade classes in your school, so that we may select the classes and students who will be invited to 

participate. This step is critically important, and we would appreciate your help in completing this task within three 

weeks of receipt of this letter.

PIRLS is conducted by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and 

data are collected by RTI International (RTI). A PIRLS study representative will contact you shortly to answer 

questions you may have and to begin discussing data collection logistics. In-school data collection is scheduled to 

take place during March and April 2015. The student data collection will include a reading assessment and 

background questionnaire. RTI will provide a trained test administrator (TA) to conduct the student sessions and 

to assist with the parental permission form process. A school administrator, the teachers of selected classes, and 

parents of participating students will also be asked to complete a questionnaire. They will be contacted separately, 

and their data will be collected through a web-based application or hard-copy survey. The data collected during the 

field test will permit assessment developers to test new questions to ensure fairness for U.S. students and allow us 

to fine tune operational procedures for the 2016 assessment.

We sincerely appreciate your help in preparing for the session at your school and in ensuring that PIRLS is a 

success. Each school’s participation is critical to the success of the study, and reports will not identify participating 

districts, schools, students, or individual staff.

If you have any questions, please contact us at RTI at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or by email at xxxx@rti.org.

Thank you for your support of education through participating in PIRLS.

Sincerely,

Patricia Green

Project Director, Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)

Enclosures

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). By law, the data provided by your school, 

staff, parents, and students may only be used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 

U.S.C. § 9573).
18

PIRLS	School	Coordinator	Responsibilities

As the PIRLS school coordinator (SC), you play an important role in the success of the study. RTI will provide a trained 

test administrator (TA) to conduct the student session and to assist you as much as possible. But we will need to rely 

on you to complete certain tasks so that data collection will be successful.

Study Details

The field test phase of PIRLS consists of the following:

 Student Reading Assessment and Questionnaire –

Students in selected classrooms will be 

administered a reading assessment and 

background questionnaire. The session will take 

about 2 hours. The TA from RTI will conduct the

student session at your school and each 

participating student will receive a thank you gift.

 School Administrator Questionnaire - The school 

administrator or designee will complete a 

questionnaire about school characteristics, 

enrollment, resources, policies, and the learning 

environment. The questionnaire may be completed 

online or via hardcopy and will take about 40

minutes to complete. RTI will send information to 

you to distribute to the person who is designated 

to answer the school administrator questionnaire.

 School Teacher Questionnaire – Teachers of 

selected classrooms will complete a questionnaire 

regarding their teaching experience, available 

resources, and instructional practices. The 

questionnaire may be completed online or via 

hardcopy and will take about 40 minutes to 

complete. RTI will send information to you to 

distribute to selected teachers.

 Parent Questionnaire - A parent/guardian of each 

participating student will complete a questionnaire 

about their child’s early learning experiences. The 

questionnaire may be completed online or via 

hardcopy and will take about 30 minutes to 

complete. RTI will either send information to SC to 

distribute or send directly to parents if contact 

information is provided.

For additional information, you may visit our website 

at: https://xxx.xxx.xxx

Your Responsibilities

You have been asked to complete several tasks prior to 

the student data collection session that will take place 

in the spring of 2015. These include providing student 

information, working with RTI on the session logistics, 

assisting with parental consent form distribution and 

receipt, and helping to coordinate school staff and 

parent surveys.

We will use the PIRLS secure website to exchange 

information, such as class and student lists. Please visit: 

https://xxx.xxx.xxx and log-in with the following 

information:

Study ID: ############

Password: #######

Table 1 shows the activities you will be asked to 

perform and a timeline for these activities.

Table 1. Activities Timeline

Provide information on 

4

th grade classes using 

the Class Listing Form.

Within 3 weeks of 

receipt of request

Complete Student Listing 

Form for selected 

class(es)

Within one week of 

selection of classes

Coordinate session 

logistics (date, time, 

location, consent type) 

Within 3 weeks of 

receipt of request

Notify teachers, selected 

students, and parents of 

the study and benefit of 

participating

At least 3 weeks 

prior to scheduled 

session

Distribute parental 

consent forms to all 

selected students 

At least 3 weeks 

prior to scheduled 

session
19

Monitor return of 

consent forms; distribute 

reminder letters as 

needed. Collect returned, 

signed forms and submit 

to TA.

During the 3 weeks 

from distribution to 

data collection day

Notify/remind teachers 

and students about the 

data collection session

One week prior and 

one day prior to 

session

Assist the TA with getting 

the students to the 

session and setting up 

the room (if necessary)

On the day of the 

session 

Coordinate completion 

of the administrator and 

teachers’ questionnaires.

Two weeks prior to 

the student session

Providing Student Information

We will select one or two classes per school, depending 

on the number of classes available at grade 4. Please 

submit the Class Listing Form (including all classes that 

account for each student in 4

th grade). The CLF should 

be uploaded to the secure PIRLS website. The student 

sample will consist of all students in the selected 

classes.

We will then ask you to complete the Student Listing 

Form for selected class(es) to provide information on 

the students in those classes (e.g., name, district ID, 

class, date of birth, gender). SLF should be uploaded to 

the secure PIRLS website.

Assisting with Student Session Logistics

In order to minimize disruption at the school on the 

day of the student data collection, it is crucial that 

arrangements be made in advance. These

arrangements include:

 Determine the date for student data collection.

 Determine the location and time(s) of the student 

session(s): will the student session take place in the 

classroom or will a separate room be reserved? If 

there are multiple classes sampled, will the 

administration be conducted together or 

separately?

 Determine parental permission type 

(implied/passive or written/active). Distribute 

consent forms, track returned, signed forms, 

collect returned forms and submit to the PIRLS TA.

 Work with the TA to identify students with special 

needs.

 Notify teachers and students in selected 

classrooms about PIRLS, the importance of 

participating, and explain test day activities.

 Contact parents to encourage them to return the 

signed consent form (if applicable) and to complete 

the parent questionnaire.

Parental Permission

Parental permission materials will be provided by RTI a 

few weeks before the scheduled session. We ask that 

you distribute the parent permission forms to the 

sampled students.

 Most schools use implied/passive permission 

(which means students only return a form if their 

parent denies permission to participate), as this 

option lessens the burden on school staff and 

results in higher participation rates. If you are using 

this permission type, please record parent refusals 

onto the student tracking form (STF) which will be 

provided with the permission forms.

 Some schools require written/active consent. If 

your school requires active consent, parents are 

asked to return signed permission forms to the 

school coordinator. Please keep track of the return 

of these forms on the STF. Please make sure any 

returned forms have one “box” checked, a 

parent/guardian signature (not just a printed 

name) and the name of the student.

Your TA will be in contact with you to track the return 

of consent forms (and parent questionnaires, if 

applicable), as well as exclusion statuses for students. 

Reminder forms will be sent home as needed. The TA 
20

will check the permission forms on the day of the 

session to make sure we do not include anyone whose 

parents have not granted permission. Please keep the 

returned parent permission forms in a locked or secure 

location. Your TA will fax any returned forms from your 

school at the end of the data collection to a secure fax 

machine at RTI. Please let him/her know if you need to 

retain copies.

Assist on Day of Student Session

The PIRLS TA will arrive at the school about an hour 

before the student session. In order to have valid 

results from the study, we need as many sampled 

students to participate as possible. We are depending 

on you to make certain the students and teachers are 

aware of the date, time, and location for their 

participation and to generate enthusiasm. This often 

makes the difference in high student participation. You 

may want to advertise PIRLS throughout the school and 

classroom or make a PA announcement about the 

study the day before and the day of the session to 

generate interest and encourage participation.

We would also like for you or a teacher to remain in 

the room during the session administration to help 

maintain order and assist as needed.

Again, the TA will need to fax any returned permission 

forms at the end of the session. Please assist him or 

her in faxing these forms.

Token of Appreciation

As a token of our appreciation for your time and 

energy with PIRLS, you will receive $100 after the 

student session has been completed. You are also 

eligible to receive an additional amount of up to $100 

to thank you for actively contacting parents and 

encouraging their and their student’s participation in 

the study. This additional amount is based on the 

response rate threshold and is in addition to the initial 

$100 for coordinating the in-school PIRLS 

administration.

Based on your school’s student-parent response rates, 

you will receive an additional token of appreciation as

outlined in Table 2.

Table 2. Additional SC Token of Appreciation

Percent of ParentStudent Pairs Selected 

in the Sample and 

Participating in the 

Study

Additional Token of 

Appreciation

90-100% $100

80-90% $75

70-80% $50

Under 70% $25

SCs can opt not to contact parents directly and receive 

the $100 token of appreciation without an additional 

amount.

THANK YOU for your help to make PIRLS a 

success!! We greatly appreciate your time and 

assistance!
21

Administrator	Questionnaire	PIRLS	Field	Test	Letter

[Date] Web Address:

[Title] [Name First] [Name Last], [Principal/Administrator] Your Study ID:

[School] Your Password:

[Address 1]

[City], [State] [Zip code]

Dear [Title] [Name Last]:

The United States is participating in an important international study in 2016: the Progress in International 

Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). Since 2001, PIRLS has measured trends in reading achievement at grade 4 in 

countries around the world, including the United States. Results from PIRLS are used by researchers and 

policymakers to chart national progress against international standards and other countries around the world, 

informing national discussions about international competitiveness. In preparation for the 2016 assessment, 

[school name] is participating in a field test in the spring of 2015. The purpose of the field test is both to try out 

new questions and to help ensure that operational procedures will be effective in the 2016 assessment.

We are asking you to complete a 40-minute questionnaire to provide insight into the practices and resources at 

your school. The survey is designed to be completed by you or a staff person you designate who can provide 

information about the characteristics of the school, its enrollment, resources, policies, and learning environment.

The questionnaire may be completed by hardcopy or online using a secure website. To access the questionnaire 

online, please use the web address and unique study ID and password provided on this letter. If completing the 

questionnaire by hardcopy, please use the enclosed business reply envelope to return the completed questionnaire 

to us. You may also give the completed hard copy questionnaire to the PIRLS school coordinator at your school.

In the United States, PIRLS is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. 

Department of Education, and the data are being collected by RTI International. The U.S. Office of Management 

and Budget has approved the data collection under OMB #1850-0645. For information on the confidentiality of 

the data collected, please see the enclosed FAQ. While participation in this questionnaire is voluntary, your 

participation is invaluable.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Dr. Patricia Green at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or send an 

email to PIRLS@rti.org. You may also get more information about this study by visiting the PIRLS website at 

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/PIRLS. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, you may call 

RTI’s Office for Research Protection in Durham, North Carolina, toll-free at 1-866-214-2043.

Your participation in the field test administrator questionnaire for PIRLS 2016 is very important to its success. 

Thank you for your time and for supporting this important international study.

John Q. Easton

Director, Institute of Education Sciences

Acting Commissioner, NCES

Enclosures

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). By law, the data provided by you may only be 

used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. § 9573).
22

Teacher	Questionnaire	PIRLS	Field	Test	Letter

[Date] Web Address:

[Title] [Name First] [Name Last], [Teacher] Your Study ID:

[School] Your Password:

[Address 1]

[City], [State] [Zip code]

Dear [Title] [Name Last]:

The United States is participating in an important international study in 2016: the Progress in International 

Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). Since 2001, PIRLS has measured trends in reading achievement at grade 4 in 

countries around the world, including the United States. Results from PIRLS are used by researchers and 

policymakers to chart national progress against international standards and other countries around the world, 

informing national discussions about international competitiveness. In preparation for the 2016 assessment, 

[School Name] is participating in a field test the spring of 2015. The purpose of the field test is both to try out new 

questions and to help ensure that operational procedures will be effective in the 2016 assessment.

We are asking you to complete a 40-minute questionnaire to provide insight into your teaching experience and 

available resources and instructional practices at your school. You may complete the questionnaire by hardcopy or 

online using a secure website. To access the questionnaire online, please use the web address and unique study ID 

and password provided on this letter. If completing the questionnaire by hardcopy, please use the enclosed 

business reply envelope to return the completed questionnaire to us. You may also give the completed hard copy 

questionnaire to the PIRLS school coordinator at your school.

You will receive a check for $20 within a few weeks of completing the questionnaire as a token of our 

appreciation.

In the United States, PIRLS is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. 

Department of Education, and the data are being collected by RTI International. The U.S. Office of Management 

and Budget has approved the data collection under OMB #1850-0645. For information on the confidentiality of 

the data collected, please see the enclosed FAQ. While participation in this questionnaire is voluntary, your 

participation is invaluable.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Dr. Patricia Green at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or send an 

email to PIRLS@rti.org. You may also get more information about this study by visiting the PIRLS website at 

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/PIRLS. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, you may call 

RTI’s Office for Research Protection in Durham, North Carolina, toll-free at 1-866-214-2043.

Your participation in the field test teacher questionnaire for PIRLS 2016 is very important to its success. Thank 

you for your time and for supporting this important international study.

John Q. Easton

Director, Institute of Education Sciences

Acting Commissioner, NCES

Enclosures

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). By law, the data provided by you may only be 

used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. § 9573).
23

PIRLS 2016 Study	Brochure	Content: 8	1⁄2	X	11in	Tri-fold

Title page:

PIRLS USA Logo

Map of world

Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2016

Inside panels:

What is PIRLS?

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) is an international assessment and research project 

designed to measure reading achievement at the fourth grade, as well as school and teacher practices related to 

instruction. PIRLS was previously assessed in 2001, 2006, and 2011, with the United State participating previously in all 

past assessments. In 2016, PIRLS will involve students from more than 40 countries, including the United States.

PIRLS is sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and conducted

in the United States by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education.

Why is PIRLS important?

PIRLS provides a unique opportunity to compare the reading of U.S. fourth-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. The results inform national discussions 

about education as well as international competitiveness.

PIRLS provides valuable benchmark information on how U.S. students compare to students around the world, allows 

educators and policymakers to examine other educational systems for practices that could have application to the 

United States, and contributes to ongoing discussions of ways to improve the quality of education of all students.

What type of assessment is PIRLS?

PIRLS is developed through an international consensus-building process involving input from U.S. and international 

experts in reading and measurement. In a final step, the assessment is endorsed as suitable by all participating 

countries. The assessment contains a mix of questions: some require students to select appropriate responses, while 

others require that students provide written answers. Examples of released PIRLS items are available at 

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pirls/released.asp.

Key findings from PIRLS 2011

At grade 4, the U.S. average reading score (556) was higher than the PIRLS average of 500. The U.S. was among the top 

7 education systems (5 education systems had higher averages and 7 were not measurably different) and scored 

higher, on average, than 40 education systems. The U.S. reading average at grade 4 rose 16 points between 2006 and 

2011. The U.S. was one of 12 education systems that increased its average score during this time period.

Back panels:

Other information collected by PIRLS

PIRLS is more than an assessment of student knowledge in reading. PIRLS also considers the context in which learning 

occurs. Students, parents, teachers, and schools are asked about a variety of aspects of the environments in which 

content is taught, learned, practiced, and applied. In this way, PIRLS provides each country with a rich source of 

information on the factors influencing reading achievement.
24

Countries that participated in PIRLS 2011

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Azerbaijan

Bahrain

Belgium

Belize

Botswana

Bulgaria

Canada

Chinese Taipei

Colombia

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Hong Kong-China

Hungary

Iceland

Indonesia

Iran

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Kuwait

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Macedonia

Malta

Moldova

Morocco

The Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Qatar

Russian Federation

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

Slovak Republic

Slovenia

South Africa

Spain

Sweden

Trinidad & Tobago

Turkey

United Arab 

Emirates

United States

NCES is authorized to conduct PIRLS under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543).

Information collected will help the U.S. Department of Education’s ongoing efforts to benchmark student achievement 

in the United States. Participation is voluntary. By law, data collected may be used only for statistical purposes and 

may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. § 9573).

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved the data collection under OMB # 1850-0645. Individual 

responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

PIRLS USA logo

IES / NCES logo

For questions about PIRLS 2016, contact the PIRLS Information Hotline at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or email PIRLS@rti.org].
25

PIRLS Field	Test	FAQ

Progress in International Reading Literacy Study

Frequently Asked Questions

PIRLS Field Test (Spring 2015)

<<Insert quote from previous PIRLS participating school>>

What is PIRLS?

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) is an international assessment and research project 

designed to measure trends in reading achievement at the fourth-grade level as well as school and teacher practices 

related to instruction. Since 2001, PIRLS has been administered every 5 years. PIRLS 2016, the fourth study in the 

series, will involve students from more than 40 countries, including the United States.

What is the field test for?

Field tests are a critical part of the development of test questions for assessments like PIRLS. Field tests (small-scale, 

trial runs of an assessment) allow assessment developers to try out new questions to determine their performance 

when administered to students around the world. The results of the U.S. field test will help assessment developers to 

determine specific wording or content that may put U.S. students at a disadvantage relative to students in other 

countries. It will also allow the U.S. to fine tune operational procedures for the 2016 assessment.

Why was my school selected for participation?

Your school was randomly selected so that the overall U.S. field test sample will be representative of the overall U.S. 

school population. Field-testing on a diverse sample of students from a variety of schools, locations, and backgrounds 

ensures that the assessment wording and concepts are not regionally, culturally, or socially biased.

Why should my school and students participate?

PIRLS informs national discussions about education policy as well as international competitiveness. By participating, 

students ensure fairness in the questions that will be used in the main study in 2016. Field-testing the assessment 

questions will identify specific wording and content that could disadvantage U.S. students in the main study. Students’ 

efforts in the field test help ensure that the achievement of our students is accurately and fairly reported.

Is it possible that my school will be selected for the main study as well as the field test?

No, schools selected for the field test will not be selected for the 2016 main study.

Will all our fourth-grade students be asked to participate?

Probably not, unless your school only has one grade 4 classroom. Students with disabilities and English-Language 

learners may also be excused.

Who conducts the PIRLS assessment?

The entire assessment process will be conducted by trained staff from RTI International, a research organization under 

contract with the National Center for Education Statistics in the U.S. Department of Education. NCES is authorized to 

conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543) and approval of the 

U.S. Office of Management and Budget under OMB # 1850-0645.

How are the teacher and school questionnaires administered?

The teacher and school questionnaires are administered either online from a secure website or via a hardcopy form.

Teacher questionnaires take about 40 minutes to complete and ask teachers questions about their experience, 
26

available resources, and instructional practices. School questionnaires take about 40 minutes to complete and ask 

about school practices and resources.

Do teachers need to help administer the assessment?

No, RTI International field staff will visit the school on the day of the assessment, bringing with them all the materials 

required. These field staff will administer the assessments to students.

When will the field test be conducted?

The field test will be conducted between March 1 and April 30, 2015. RTI International will work with schools to 

identify an assessment date convenient for the school in that time period.

Where will the field test be conducted?

The assessment will be conducted in the schools that are selected to participate.

How long does the field test take?

The field test session will take approximately 2 hours and includes time for directions, the administration of the 

assessment, a brief questionnaire that students complete about themselves, and two breaks. The questionnaire takes 

approximately 30 minutes to complete.

What will happen with the collected data?

The field test data will be used to evaluate whether the assessment fairly and accurately measures student’s 

knowledge and skills in all participating countries. By law, the data provided by schools, staff, parents, and students 

may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose 

except as required by law (Education Science Reform Act of 2002 [ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9573]). Reports of the 

findings from the field test will not identify participating districts, schools, students, or individual staff. Individual 

responses will be combined with those of other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

Are schools required by federal law to participate?

No. School participation is voluntary. However, we hope you will participate in this study so that students like those in 

your school are accurately and fairly represented.

What are the benefits?

The nation as a whole benefits from PIRLS by having a greater understanding of how the reading knowledge and skills 

of U.S. 4th graders compare with 4th graders from other countries. The country benefits from the field test by ensuring 

that the questions used in the main study are fair and appropriate for U.S. students. To thank participating schools and 

individuals for their time and effort we offer tokens of appreciation: schools that participate in PIRLS will receive [$200 

OR two iPad minis] and the school coordinator (staff person designated to assist with the study) will receive $100 and 

could receive up to an additional $100 based on student-parent participation rates. Teachers who complete a survey 

will receive $20, and each student who participates will receive a small gift. Additionally, parents whose student 

participates in the study and who complete the parent survey will receive $20 for participating.

Where can I find more information about PIRLS?

Visit the PIRLS website at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pirls/index.asp .

For additional information about PIRLS 2016, contact the PIRLS U.S. home office at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or email 

PIRLS@rti.org.
27

Summary	of	School	Activities: PIRLS	Field	Test (Spring	2015)

Summary of School Activities: PIRLS Field Test

NovemberDecember 2014January-March 2015

Prior to assessment day

March-April 2015

Assessment day Benefits

Principal  Designate a 

school 

coordinator

 Complete a brief School 

Questionnaire on the 

characteristics of the 

school, its enrollment, 

resources, policies, and 

learning environment 

(available online or 

hardcopy)

 Share the importance of 

participation in the study 

with school staff

 Support assessment 

day activities

 Encourage students 

to participate and do 

their best on the 

assessment

 Represent other similar U.S. schools

 Receive a $200 check for the school [OR 

2 iPad minis]

School 

coordinator

 Select an 

assessment date 

convenient for 

your school

 Arrange assessment day 

location

 Confirm date and location 

with PIRLS assessment 

staff

 Provide class lists, student 

lists, and contact 

information for grade 4

students

 Notify teachers, selected 

students, and students’ 

parents of the study and 

benefit of participating

 Work with assessment 

staff to identify students 

with special needs

 Coordinate the principal’s 

completion of the School 

Questionnaire (online or 

hardcopy)

 Coordinate the teacher’s 

completion of the Teacher 

Questionnaire (online or 

hardcopy)

 Collect parental consent 

forms where required and 

submit to PIRLS staff

 Provide parent contact 

information or send 

Learning to Read 

questionnaires home to 

parents

 Confirm space for 

assessment is 

problem-free

 Collect complete 

School and Teacher 

Questionnaires (if 

not completed 

online) and give to 

assessment staff

 Ensure all sampled 

students attend the 

assessment session

 Meet with 

assessment staff and 

provide feedback 

about the 

assessment process

 Receive a $100 check

 Receive an additional token of 

appreciation of up to $100 for actively 

contacting parents and encouraging 

their and their student’s participation in 

the study. This additional amount is 

based on the response rate threshold 

and is in addition to the initial $100 for 

coordinating the in-school PIRLS 

administration.

Teachers of 

eligible 

courses

 Complete Teacher 

Questionnaire and return 

to school coordinator prior 

to assessment day (if not 

completed online)

 Receive a $20 check

 Represent the United States in 

preparations for the international study

Selected 

Students

 Attend the 

assessment session, 

complete the 

assessment and 

Student 

Questionnaire

 Receive a small thank-you gift

 Represent the United States in 

preparations for the international study

Parents of 

Selected 

Students

 Complete the 

Reading to Learn 

Parent 

Questionnaire

 Receive $20 as small thank-you gift

when both student and parent 

questionnaires are completed

 Represent the United States in 
28

preparations for the international study

RTI 

International

assessment 

staff

 Work with the 

school to set an 

assessment date

 Help school 

coordinator 

with assessment 

details and 

logistics

 Protect school 

and student 

confidentiality

 Call the school coordinator 

to discuss assessment day 

location and student 

participation

 Select student sample and 

notify school of selected 

students

 Provide School and Teacher 

Questionnaires to the 

school coordinator for 

distribution

 Conduct assessment 

from start to finish

 Furnish all the 

assessment 

materials, pencils, 

and test booklets

 Conduct a brief 

debriefing interview 

with the school 

coordinator at the 

end of the 

assessment

 Maintain security of 

all materials

 Ensure quality and uniformity of data 

collected across the United States

For additional information, go to http://nces.ed.gov/PIRLS.
29

State	PIRLS	Main	Study	Letter

[Date]

[Title] [Name First] [Name Last]

[Title/Department]

[State]

[Address 1]

[Address 2]

[City], [State] [Zip code]

Dear [Title] [Name Last]:

The United States is participating in an important international study in 2016: the Progress in International 

Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). Since 2001, PIRLS has measured trends in reading achievement at grade 4 in 

countries around the world, including the United States. Results from PIRLS are used by researchers and 

policymakers to chart national progress against international standards and other countries around the world, 

informing national discussions about international competitiveness.

Some schools in your state have been randomly selected to participate in PIRLS in spring 2016. I am writing to 

ask your agency to support the participation of those selected schools.

PIRLS is described in more detail in the enclosed materials. In the United States, PIRLS is conducted by the 

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education, and the data are 

being collected by RTI International. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved the data 

collection under OMB #1850-0645. For information on the confidentiality of the data collected, please see the 

enclosed FAQ. While participation in this study is voluntary, your support of school participation in your state is 

invaluable so that the United States has a representative sample of schools across the country.

Within the next few weeks, a representative of RTI International will contact sampled school districts and schools 

to discuss participating in the assessment. In the meantime, if you have questions about the study, please do not 

hesitate to call Dr. Patricia Green at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or send an email to PIRLS@rti.org. You may also get 

more information about this study by contacting Dr. Sheila Thompson at NCES at (202) 502-7425 or 

sheila.thompson@ed.gov, or by visiting the PIRLS website at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/PIRLS.

Thank you for your time and support of this important international study.

Sincerely,

John Q. Easton

Director, Institute of Education Sciences

Acting Commissioner, NCES

cc: [State assessment director]

Enclosures

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). By law, the data provided by schools, staff, 

parents, and students may only be used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. § 

9573).
30

School	District	PIRLS	Main	Study	Letter

[Date]

[Title] [Name First] [Name Last], [Title/Department]

[School District]

[Address 1]

[City], [State] [Zip code]

Dear [Title] [Name Last]:

The United States is participating in an important international study in 2016: the Progress in International Reading 

Literacy Study (PIRLS). Since 2001, PIRLS has measured trends in reading achievement at grade 4 in countries around 

the world, including the United States. Results from PIRLS are used by researchers and policymakers to chart national 

progress against international standards and other countries around the world, informing national discussions about 

international competitiveness.

One or more schools in your district have been randomly selected to participate in PIRLS in spring 2016. I am writing 

to ask your agency to support the participation of those selected schools. Participating schools will receive [$200 OR 

two iPad minis], and each school’s PIRLS school coordinator (the school staff person designated to work with PIRLS 

staff) will receive $100 as a thank you for his or her time and effort. The school coordinator may also receive an 

additional monetary token of appreciation of up to $100 for actively contacting parents and encouraging their and their 

student’s participation in the study. This additional amount is based on the response rate threshold and is in addition to 

the initial $100 for coordinating the in-school PIRLS administration. A school administrator and selected teachers will 

each be asked to complete a questionnaire. Teachers will receive $20 as a thank you for completing the questionnaire.

Each student who participates will receive a small gift as a token of appreciation. Parents whose student participates in 

the study and who complete the parent survey will receive $20 for participating.

PIRLS is described in more detail in the enclosed materials. In the United States, PIRLS is conducted by the National 

Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education, and the data are being collected by 

RTI International. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved the data collection under OMB #1850-

0645. For information on the confidentiality of the data collected, please see the enclosed FAQ. While participation in 

this study is voluntary, your support of school participation in your district is invaluable so that the United States has a 

representative sample of schools across the country.

Within the next few days, a representative of RTI International will contact the following school or schools in your 

district that have been selected for the assessment: [LIST SAMPLED SCHOOLS HERE...].

If you have any questions about the study, please do not hesitate to call Dr. Patricia Green at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or 

send an email to PIRLS@rti.org. You may also get more information about this study by contacting Dr. Sheila 

Thompson at NCES at (202) 502-7425 or sheila.thompson@ed.gov, or by visiting the PIRLS website at 

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/PIRLS.

Thank you for your time and support of this important international study.

John Q. Easton

Director, Institute of Education Sciences

Acting Commissioner, NCES

Enclosures

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). By law, the data provided by schools, staff, 

parents, and students may only be used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. § 

9573).
31

School	PIRLS	Main	Study	Letter

[Date]

[Title] [Name First] [Name Last], [Title/Department]

[School District]

[Address 1]

[City], [State] [Zip code]

Dear [Title] [Name Last]:

The United States is participating in an important international study in 2016: the Progress in International 

Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). Since 2001, PIRLS has measured trends in reading achievement at grade 4 in 

countries around the world, including the United States. Results from PIRLS are used by researchers and 

policymakers to chart national progress against international standards and other countries around the world, 

informing national discussions about international competitiveness.

Your school has been randomly selected to participate in PIRLS in spring 2016. Participating schools will receive 

[$200 OR two iPad minis], and each school’s PIRLS school coordinator (the school staff person designated to 

work with PIRLS staff) will receive $100 as a thank you for his or her time and effort. The school coordinator may 

also receive an additional monetary token of appreciation of up to $100 for actively contacting parents and 

encouraging their and their student’s participation in the study. This additional amount is based on the response 

rate threshold and is in addition to the initial $100 for coordinating the in-school PIRLS administration. A school 

administrator and selected teachers will each be asked to complete a questionnaire. Teachers will receive $20 as a 

thank you for completing the questionnaire. Participating students will receive a small gift as a token of 

appreciation. Parents whose student participates in the study and who complete the parent survey will receive $20 

for participating.

PIRLS is described in more detail in the enclosed materials. In the United States, PIRLS is conducted by the 

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education, and the data are 

being collected by RTI International. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved the data 

collection under OMB #1850-0645. For information on the confidentiality of the data collected, please see the 

enclosed FAQ. While participation in this study is voluntary, your school’s participation is invaluable so that the 

United States has a representative sample of schools across the country.

Within the next few days, a representative of RTI International will contact you to discuss your participation. If 

you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Dr. Patricia Green at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or send an email 

to PIRLS@rti.org. You may also get more information about this study by contacting Dr. Sheila Thompson at 

NCES at (202) 502-7425 or sheila.thompson@ed.gov, or by visiting the PIRLS website at 

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/PIRLS.

Your participation in the PIRLS 2016 is very important to its success. Thank you for your time and for supporting 

this important international study.

John Q. Easton

Director, Institute of Education Sciences

Acting Commissioner, NCES

Enclosures

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). By law, the data provided by your school, 

staff, parents, and students may only be used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 

U.S.C. § 9573).
32

PIRLS	2016 Main	Study	Letter	to	School	Coordinator

DATE

«sch_entity_name»

«sch_address»

«sch_citystzip»

Dear «sch_coord_name»,

We are looking forward to working with you and your school this school year on the Progress in International 

Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). As the designated school coordinator for PIRLS you play a critical role in 

assisting us with study preparations. We appreciate your assistance, particularly given the many demands on your 

time.

The attached document, PIRLS School Coordinator Responsibilities, will provide you with an overview of PIRLS, 

as well as a list of tasks and timeline needed to prepare for PIRLS data collection. The first step is to provide a list 

of the 4th grade classes in your school, so that we may select the classes and students who will be invited to 

participate. This step is critically important, and we would appreciate your help in completing this task within three 

weeks of receipt of this letter.

PIRLS is conducted by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and 

data are collected by RTI International (RTI). A PIRLS study representative will contact you shortly to answer 

questions you may have and to begin discussing data collection logistics. In-school data collection is scheduled to 

take place during February through May 2016. The student data collection will include a reading assessment and 

background questionnaire. RTI will provide a trained test administrator (TA) to conduct the student sessions and 

to assist with the parental permission form process. A school administrator, the teachers of selected classes, and 

parents of participating students will also be asked to complete a questionnaire. They will be contacted separately, 

and their data will be collected through a web-based application or hard-copy survey.

We sincerely appreciate your help in preparing for the session at your school and in ensuring that PIRLS is a 

success. Each school’s participation is critical to the success of the study, and reports will not identify participating 

districts, schools, students, or individual staff.

If you have any questions, please contact us at RTI at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or by email at PIRLS@rti.org.

Thank you for your support of education through participating in PIRLS.

Sincerely,

Patricia Green

Project Director, Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)

Enclosures

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). By law, the data provided by your school, 

staff, parents, and students may only be used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 

U.S.C. § 9573).
33

PIRLS	School	Coordinator	Responsibilities

As the PIRLS school coordinator (SC), you play an important role in the success of the study. RTI will provide a trained 

test administrator (TA) to conduct the student session and to assist you as much as possible. But we will need to rely 

on you to complete certain tasks so that data collection will be successful.

Study Details

PIRLS 2016 consists of the following:

 Student Reading Assessment and Questionnaire –

Students in selected classrooms will be 

administered a reading assessment and 

background questionnaire. The session will take 

about 2 hours. The TA from RTI will conduct the

student session at your school and each 

participating student will receive a thank you gift.

 School Administrator Questionnaire - The school 

administrator or designee will complete a 

questionnaire about school characteristics, 

enrollment, resources, policies, and the learning 

environment. The questionnaire may be completed 

online or via hardcopy and will take about 40

minutes to complete. RTI will send information to 

you to distribute to the person who is designated 

to answer the school administrator questionnaire.

 School Teacher Questionnaire – Teachers of 

selected classrooms will complete a questionnaire 

regarding their teaching experience, available 

resources, and instructional practices. The 

questionnaire may be completed online or via 

hardcopy and will take about 40 minutes to 

complete. RTI will send information to you to 

distribute to selected teachers.

 Parent Questionnaire - A parent/guardian of each 

participating student will complete a questionnaire 

about their child’s early learning experiences. The 

questionnaire may be completed online or via 

hardcopy and will take about 30 minutes to 

complete. RTI will either send information to SC to 

distribute or send directly to parents if contact 

information is provided.

For additional information, you may visit our website 

at: https://xxx.xxx.xxx

Your Responsibilities

You have been asked to complete several tasks prior to 

the student data collection session that will take place 

in the spring of 2016. These include providing student 

information, working with RTI on the session logistics, 

assisting with parental consent form distribution and 

receipt, and helping to coordinate school staff and 

parent surveys.

We will use the PIRLS secure website to exchange 

information, such as class and student lists. Please visit: 

https://xxx.xxx.xxx and log-in with the following 

information:

Study ID: ############

Password: #######

Table 1 shows the activities you will be asked to 

perform and a timeline for these activities.

Table 1. Activities Timeline

Provide information on 

4

th grade classes using 

the Class Listing Form.

Within 3 weeks of 

receipt of request

Complete Student Listing 

Form for selected 

class(es)

Within one week of 

selection of classes

Coordinate session 

logistics (date, time, 

location, consent type) 

Within 3 weeks of 

receipt of request

Notify teachers, selected 

students, and parents of 

the study and benefit of 

participating

At least 3 weeks 

prior to scheduled 

session

Distribute parental 

consent forms to all 

selected students 

At least 3 weeks 

prior to scheduled 

session
34

Monitor return of 

consent forms; distribute 

reminder letters as 

needed. Collect returned, 

signed forms and submit 

to TA.

During the 3 weeks 

from distribution to 

data collection day

Notify/remind teachers 

and students about the 

data collection session

One week prior and 

one day prior to 

session

Assist the TA with getting 

the students to the 

session and setting up 

the room (if necessary)

On the day of the 

session 

Coordinate completion 

of the administrator and 

teachers’ questionnaires.

Two weeks prior to 

the student session

Providing Student Information

We will select one or two classes per school, depending 

on the number of classes available at grade 4. Please 

submit the Class Listing Form (including all classes that 

account for each student in 4

th grade). The CLF should 

be uploaded to the secure PIRLS website. The student 

sample will consist of all students in the selected 

classes.

We will then ask you to complete the Student Listing 

Form for selected class(es) to provide information on 

the students in those classes (e.g., name, district ID, 

class, date of birth, gender). SLF should be uploaded to 

the secure PIRLS website.

Assisting with Student Session Logistics

In order to minimize disruption at the school on the 

day of the student data collection, it is crucial that 

arrangements be made in advance. These

arrangements include:

 Determine the date for student data collection.

 Determine the location and time(s) of the student 

session(s): will the student session take place in the 

classroom or will a separate room be reserved? If 

there are multiple classes sampled, will the 

administration be conducted together or 

separately?

 Determine parental permission type 

(implied/passive or written/active). Distribute 

consent forms, track returned, signed forms, 

collect returned forms and submit to the PIRLS TA.

 Work with the TA to identify students with special 

needs.

 Notify teachers and students in selected 

classrooms about PIRLS, the importance of 

participating, and explain test day activities.

 Contact parents to encourage them to return the 

signed consent form (if applicable) and to complete 

the parent questionnaire.

Parental Permission

Parental permission materials will be provided by RTI a 

few weeks before the scheduled session. We ask that 

you distribute the parent permission forms to the 

sampled students.

 Most schools use implied/passive permission 

(which means students only return a form if their 

parent denies permission to participate), as this 

option lessens the burden on school staff and 

results in higher participation rates. If you are using 

this permission type, please record parent refusals 

onto the student tracking form (STF) which will be 

provided with the permission forms.

 Some schools require written/active consent. If 

your school requires active consent, parents are 

asked to return signed permission forms to the 

school coordinator. Please keep track of the return 

of these forms on the STF. Please make sure any 

returned forms have one “box” checked, a 

parent/guardian signature (not just a printed 

name) and the name of the student.

Your TA will be in contact with you to track the return 

of consent forms (and parent questionnaires, if 

applicable), as well as exclusion statuses for students. 

Reminder forms will be sent home as needed. The TA 

will check the permission forms on the day of the 
35

session to make sure we do not include anyone whose 

parents have not granted permission. Please keep the 

returned parent permission forms in a locked or secure 

location. Your TA will fax any returned forms from your 

school at the end of the data collection to a secure fax 

machine at RTI. Please let him/her know if you need to 

retain copies.

Assist on Day of Student Session

The PIRLS TA will arrive at the school about an hour 

before the student session. In order to have valid 

results from the study, we need as many sampled 

students to participate as possible. We are depending 

on you to make certain the students and teachers are 

aware of the date, time, and location for their 

participation and to generate enthusiasm. This often 

makes the difference in high student participation. You 

may want to advertise PIRLS throughout the school and 

classroom or make a PA announcement about the 

study the day before and the day of the session to 

generate interest and encourage participation.

We would also like for you or a teacher to remain in 

the room during the session administration to help 

maintain order and assist as needed.

Again, the TA will need to fax any returned permission 

forms at the end of the session. Please assist him or 

her in faxing these forms.

Token of Appreciation

As a token of our appreciation for your time and 

energy with PIRLS, you will receive $100 after the 

student session has been completed. You are also 

eligible to receive an additional of up to $100 to thank 

you for actively contacting parents and encouraging 

their and their student’s participation in the study. This 

additional amount is based on the response rate 

threshold and is in addition to the initial $100 for 

coordinating the in-school PIRLS administration.

Based on your school’s student-parent response rates, 

you will receive an additional token of appreciation as 

outlined in Table 2.

Table 2. Additional SC Token of Appreciation

Percent of ParentStudent Pairs Selected 

in the Sample and 

Participating in the 

Study

Additional Token of 

Appreciation

90-100% $100

80-90% $75

70-80% $50

Under 70% $25

SCs can opt not to contact parents directly and receive 

the $100 token of appreciation without an additional 

amount.

THANK YOU for your help to make PIRLS a 

success!! We greatly appreciate your time and 

assistance!
36

Administrator	Questionnaire	PIRLS	Main	Study	Letter

[Date] Web Address:

[Title] [Name First] [Name Last], [Principal/Administrator] Your Study ID:

[School] Your Password:

[Address 1]

[City], [State] [Zip code]

Dear [Title] [Name Last]:

[School Name] is participating in an important international study in 2016: the Progress in International Reading 

Literacy Study (PIRLS). Since 2001, PIRLS has measured trends in reading achievement at grade 4 in countries 

around the world, including the United States. Results from PIRLS are used by researchers and policymakers to 

chart national progress against international standards and other countries around the world, informing national 

discussions about international competitiveness.

We are asking you to complete a 40-minute questionnaire to provide insight into the practices and resources at 

your school. The survey is designed to be completed by you or a staff person you designate who can provide 

information about the characteristics of the school, its enrollment, resources, policies, and learning environment.

The questionnaire may be completed by hardcopy or online using a secure website. To access the questionnaire 

online, please use the web address and unique study ID and password provided on this letter. If completing the 

questionnaire by hardcopy, please use the enclosed business reply envelope to return the completed questionnaire 

to us. You may also give the completed hard copy questionnaire to the PIRLS school coordinator at your school.

In the United States, PIRLS is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. 

Department of Education, and the data are being collected by RTI International. The U.S. Office of Management 

and Budget has approved the data collection under OMB #1850-0645. For information on the confidentiality of 

the data collected, please see the enclosed FAQ. While participation in this questionnaire is voluntary, your 

participation is invaluable.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Dr. Patricia Green at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or send an 

email to PIRLS@rti.org. You may also get more information about this study by visiting the PIRLS website at 

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/PIRLS. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, you may call 

RTI’s Office for Research Protection in Durham, North Carolina, toll-free at 1-866-214-2043.

Your participation in the administrator questionnaire for PIRLS 2016 is very important to its success. Thank you 

for your time and for supporting this important international study.

John Q. Easton

Director, Institute of Education Sciences

Acting Commissioner, NCES

Enclosures

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). By law, the data provided by you may only be 

used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. § 9573).
37

Teacher	Questionnaire	PIRLS	Main	Study	Letter

[Date] Web Address:

[Title] [Name First] [Name Last], [Teacher] Your Study ID:

[School] Your Password:

[Address 1]

[City], [State] [Zip code]

Dear [Title] [Name Last]:

[School Name] is participating in an important international study in 2016: the Progress in International Reading 

Literacy Study (PIRLS). Since 2001, PIRLS has measured trends in reading achievement at grade 4 in countries 

around the world, including the United States. Results from PIRLS are used by researchers and policymakers to 

chart national progress against international standards and other countries around the world, informing national 

discussions about international competitiveness.

We are asking you to complete a 40-minute questionnaire to provide insight into your teaching experience and 

available resources and instructional practices at your school. You may complete the questionnaire by hardcopy or 

online using a secure website. To access the questionnaire online, please use the web address and unique study ID 

and password provided on this letter. If completing the questionnaire by hardcopy, please use the enclosed 

business reply envelope to return the completed questionnaire to us. You may also give the completed hard copy 

questionnaire to the PIRLS school coordinator at your school.

You will receive a check for $20 within a few weeks of completing the questionnaire as a token of our 

appreciation.

In the United States, PIRLS is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. 

Department of Education, and the data are being collected by RTI International. The U.S. Office of Management 

and Budget has approved the data collection under OMB #1850-0645. For information on the confidentiality of 

the data collected, please see the enclosed FAQ. While participation in this questionnaire is voluntary, your 

participation is invaluable.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Dr. Patricia Green at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or send an 

email to PIRLS@rti.org. You may also get more information about this study by visiting the PIRLS website at 

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/PIRLS. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, you may call 

RTI’s Office for Research Protection in Durham, North Carolina, toll-free at 1-866-214-2043.

Your participation in the teacher questionnaire for PIRLS 2016 is very important to its success. Thank you for 

your time and for supporting this important international study.

John Q. Easton

Director, Institute of Education Sciences

Acting Commissioner, NCES

Enclosures

NCES is authorized to conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). By law, the data provided by you may only be 

used for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. § 9573).
38

PIRLS 2016 Study	Brochure	Content: 8	1⁄2	X	11in	Tri-fold

Title page:

PIRLS USA Logo

Map of world

Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2016

Inside panels:

What is PIRLS?

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) is an international assessment and research project 

designed to measure reading achievement at the fourth grade, as well as school and teacher practices related to 

instruction. PIRLS was previously assessed in 2001, 2006, and 2011, with the United State participating previously in all 

past assessments. In 2016, PIRLS will involve students from more than 40 countries, including the United States.

PIRLS is sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and conducted

in the United States by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education.

Why is PIRLS important?

PIRLS provides a unique opportunity to compare the reading of U.S. fourth-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. The results inform national discussions 

about education as well as international competitiveness.

PIRLS provides valuable benchmark information on how U.S. students compare to students around the world, allows 

educators and policymakers to examine other educational systems for practices that could have application to the 

United States, and contributes to ongoing discussions of ways to improve the quality of education of all students.

What type of assessment is PIRLS?

PIRLS is developed through an international consensus-building process involving input from U.S. and international 

experts in reading and measurement. In a final step, the assessment is endorsed as suitable by all participating 

countries. The assessment contains a mix of questions: some require students to select appropriate responses, while 

others require that students provide written answers. Examples of released PIRLS items are available at 

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pirls/released.asp.

Key findings from PIRLS 2011

At grade 4, the U.S. average reading score (556) was higher than the PIRLS average of 500. The U.S. was among the top 

7 education systems (5 education systems had higher averages and 7 were not measurably different) and scored 

higher, on average, than 40 education systems. The U.S. reading average at grade 4 rose 16 points between 2006 and 

2011. The U.S. was one of 12 education systems that increased its average score during this time period.

Back panels:

Other information collected by PIRLS

PIRLS is more than an assessment of student knowledge in reading. PIRLS also considers the context in which learning 

occurs. Students, parents, teachers, and schools are asked about a variety of aspects of the environments in which 

content is taught, learned, practiced, and applied. In this way, PIRLS provides each country with a rich source of 

information on the factors influencing reading achievement.
39

Countries that participated in PIRLS 2011

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Azerbaijan

Bahrain

Belgium

Belize

Botswana

Bulgaria

Canada

Chinese Taipei

Colombia

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Hong Kong-China

Hungary

Iceland

Indonesia

Iran

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Kuwait

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Macedonia

Malta

Moldova

Morocco

The Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Qatar

Russian Federation

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

Slovak Republic

Slovenia

South Africa

Spain

Sweden

Trinidad & Tobago

Turkey

United Arab 

Emirates

United States

NCES is authorized to conduct PIRLS under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543). 

Information collected will help the U.S. Department of Education’s ongoing efforts to benchmark student achievement 

in the United States. Participation is voluntary. By law, data collected may be used only for statistical purposes and 

may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S.C. § 9573).

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved the data collection under OMB # 1850-0645. Individual 

responses will be combined with those from other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

PIRLS USA logo

IES / NCES logo

For questions about PIRLS 2016, contact the PIRLS Information Hotline at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or email PIRLS@rti.org].
40

PIRLS 2016 Main	Study FAQ

Progress in International Reading Literacy Study

Frequently Asked Questions

PIRLS 2016 Main Study (Spring 2016)

<<Insert quote from previous PIRLS participating school>>

What is PIRLS?

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) is an international assessment and research project 

designed to measure trends in reading achievement at the fourth-grade level as well as school and teacher practices 

related to instruction. Since 2001, PIRLS has been administered every 5 years. PIRLS 2016, the fourth study in the 

series, will involve students from more than 40 countries, including the United States.

Why was my school selected for participation?

Schools of varying demographics and locations were randomly selected so that the overall U.S. sample is 

representative of the overall U.S. school population. The random selection process is important for ensuring that a 

country’s sample accurately reflects its schools and, therefore, can be compared fairly with samples of schools from

other countries.

Will all our fourth-grade students be asked to participate?

It depends on the number of fourth-grade classrooms in the school. In schools with only one or two such classrooms, 

all students will be asked to participate. In schools with more than two such classrooms, only students in two randomly 

selected classrooms will be asked to participate. In addition, some students with special needs or limited English 

proficiency may be excused from the assessment.

Who conducts the PIRLS assessment?

The entire assessment process will be conducted by trained staff from RTI International, a research organization under 

contract with the National Center for Education Statistics in the U.S. Department of Education. NCES is authorized to 

conduct this study under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9543) and approval of the 

U.S. Office of Management and Budget under OMB # 1850-0645.

How are the teacher and school questionnaires administered?

The teacher and school questionnaires are administered either online from a secure website or via a hardcopy form.

Teacher questionnaires take about 40 minutes to complete and ask teachers questions about their experience, 

available resources, and instructional practices. School questionnaires take about 40 minutes to complete and ask 

about school practices and resources.

Do teachers need to help administer the assessment?

No, RTI International field staff will visit the school on the day of the assessment, bringing with them all the materials 

required. These field staff will administer the assessments to students.

When will the assessment be conducted?

The assessment will be conducted between February and May, 2016. RTI International will work with schools to 

identify an assessment date convenient for the school in that time period.

Where will the assessment be conducted?

The assessment will be conducted in the schools that are selected to participate.

How long does the assessment take?

The assessment session is approximately 2 hours and includes time for directions, the administration of the 

assessment, a brief questionnaire that students complete about themselves, and two breaks. The questionnaire takes 

approximately 30 minutes to complete.
41

What will happen with the collected data?

The data from the assessment will be used to evaluate how the knowledge and skills of U.S. students compare to those 

of their peers in other participating countries. By law, the data provided by schools, staff, parents, and students may 

be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose 

except as required by law (Education Science Reform Act of 2002 [ESRA 2002; 20 U.S.C. § 9573]). Reports of the 

findings from the assessment will not identify participating districts, schools, students, or individual staff. Individual 

responses will be combined with those of other participants to produce summary statistics and reports.

Are schools required by federal law to participate?

No. School participation is voluntary. However, we hope you will participate in this study so that students like those in 

your school are accurately and fairly represented.

What are the benefits?

The nation as a whole benefits from PIRLS by having a greater understanding of how the reading knowledge and skills 

of U.S. 4th graders compare with 4th graders from other countries. To thank participating schools and individuals for 

their time and effort we offer tokens of appreciation: schools that participate in PIRLS will receive [$200 OR two iPad 

minis] and the school coordinator (staff person designated to assist with the study) will receive $100 and could receive 

up to an additional $100 based on student-parent participation rates. Teachers who complete a survey will receive 

$20, and each student who participates will receive a small gift. Additionally, parents whose student participates in the 

study and who complete the parent survey will receive $20 for participating.

Where can I find more information about PIRLS?

Visit the PIRLS website at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pirls/index.asp.

For additional information about PIRLS 2016, contact the PIRLS U.S. home office at (XXX) XXX-XXXX or email 

PIRLS@rti.org.
42

Summary	of	School	Activities: PIRLS 2016 Main	Study

Summary of School Activities: PIRLS 2016 Main Study

NovemberDecember 2015January-March 2016

Prior to assessment day

February-May 2016

Assessment day Benefits

Principal  Designate a 

school 

coordinator

 Complete a brief School 

Questionnaire on the 

characteristics of the 

school, its enrollment, 

resources, policies, and 

learning environment 

(available online or 

hardcopy)

 Share the importance of 

participation in the study 

with school staff

 Support assessment 

day activities

 Encourage students 

to participate and do 

their best on the 

assessment

 Represent other similar U.S. schools

 Receive a $200 check for the school [OR 

2 iPad minis]

School 

coordinator

 Select an 

assessment date 

convenient for 

your school

 Arrange assessment day 

location

 Confirm date and location 

with PIRLS assessment 

staff

 Provide class lists, student 

lists, and contact 

information for grade 4 

students

 Notify teachers, selected 

students, and students’ 

parents of the study and 

benefit of participating

 Work with assessment 

staff to identify students 

with special needs

 Coordinate the principal’s 

completion of the School 

Questionnaire (online or 

hardcopy)

 Coordinate the teacher’s 

completion of the Teacher 

Questionnaire (online or 

hardcopy)

 Collect parental consent 

forms where required and 

submit to PIRLS staff

 Provide parent contact 

information or send 

Learning to Read 

questionnaires home to 

parents

 Confirm space for 

assessment is 

problem-free

 Collect complete 

School and Teacher 

Questionnaires (if 

not completed 

online) and give to 

assessment staff

 Ensure all sampled 

students attend the 

assessment session

 Meet with 

assessment staff and 

provide feedback 

about the 

assessment process

 Receive a $100 check

 Receive an additional token of 

appreciation of up to $100 for actively 

contacting parents and encouraging 

their and their student’s participation in 

the study. This additional amount is 

based on the response rate threshold 

and is in addition to the initial $100 for 

coordinating the in-school PIRLS 

administration.

Teachers of 

sampled 

classes

 Complete Teacher 

Questionnaire and return 

to school coordinator prior 

to assessment day (if not 

completed online)

 Receive a $20 check

 Represent the United States in 

preparations for the international study

Selected 

Students

 Attend the 

assessment session, 

complete the 

assessment and 

Student 

Questionnaire

 Receive a small thank-you gift

 Represent the United States in 

preparations for the international study

Parents of 

Selected 

Students

 Complete the 

Reading to Learn 

Survey

 Receive $20 gift when both student and 

parent questionnaires are completed

 Represent the United State in 
43

preparations for the international study

RTI 

International

assessment 

staff

 Work with the 

school to set an 

assessment date

 Help school 

coordinator 

with assessment 

details and 

logistics

 Protect school 

and student 

confidentiality

 Call the school coordinator 

to discuss assessment day 

location and student 

participation

 Select classroom sample 

and notify school of 

selected classes

 Provide School and Teacher 

Questionnaires to the 

school coordinator for 

distribution

 Conduct assessment 

from start to finish

 Furnish all the 

assessment 

materials, pencils, 

and test booklets

 Conduct a brief 

debriefing interview 

with the school 

coordinator at the 

end of the 

assessment

 Maintain security of 

all materials

 Ensure quality and uniformity of data 

collected across the United States

For additional information, go to http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pirls/index.asp.