Benchmark Assessment System 

Why do we administer the F&P BAS?

Assessment is a vital part of the art and science of teaching. In Scarsdale, we value the relationship between student and teacher as the foundation for learning and growth. One of the ways we honor this relationship is by sitting beside a child, listening to them read, and engaging in thoughtful conversations about texts. 

The Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System (F&P BAS) is a comprehensive tool that provides insight into a student’s reading fluency, behaviors, retelling skills, and critical literacy skills, including their understanding of perspective and author’s craft.  By listening to students read a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts, teachers gain meaningful insights into how students orient themselves to a text and navigate its structure, selecting strategies that reflect their understanding of the genre and purpose.

We use the F&P BAS to inform instructional decisions, identifying appropriate skills along the Literacy Continuum. We believe students develop a love of reading when they are engaged with texts that challenge and inspire them. The assessment helps teachers monitor progress over time and ensure students continue working with texts that meet their needs. Ultimately, this tool supports our shared goal of nurturing confident, thoughtful readers from kindergarten through fifth grade.