PIRLS 2026 Assessment Frameworks

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) has been monitoring international trends in reading achievement among fourth-grade students for 25 years. As a critical point in a student's education, the fourth year of schooling establishes the foundations of literacy, with reading becoming increasingly central to learning across all subjects. PIRLS 2026 represents a significant milestone in the assessment's history by completing the transition to a fully digital reading assessment. This move reflects PIRLS' commitment to leading the field and staying relevant in an era where digital literacy is essential for every child's education. By embracing the digital reading assessment format, PIRLS 2026 aims to create an engaging, authentic assessment experience that aligns with young learners' daily digital reading practices. Additionally, technology enhances assessment practices, including more efficient data collection, innovative test design, and automated scoring. The PIRLS 2026 Assessment Frameworks consist of three chapters covering major assessment components: (1) Reading Assessment Framework (Chapter 1): Describes the aspects of reading literacy assessed in PIRLS; (2) Contextual Framework (Chapter 2): Addresses topics covered in the PIRLS 2026 context questionnaires and Encyclopedia; and (3) Assessment Design (Chapter 3): Presents the rationale and procedures for the groupadaptive assessment design. Updates to the PIRLS 2026 framework chapters involved contributions from National Research Coordinators (NRCs) in participating countries and from experts at partner institutions who assisted in developing item drafts and framework chapters. Their input informed new constructs of interest for the questionnaires, ensuring the frameworks remain relevant for measuring and reporting on reading achievement over time. Expert committees--the Reading Development Group (RDG) and Questionnaire Development Group (QDG)--guided revisions based on evolving theories and policy-focused research.