This validity study examines how Texas students’ performance on Newsela ELA quizzes relates to end-of-year reading achievement.

Using data from 1,617 students in grades 3–8 across seven Texas districts, the study evaluates whether quiz performance can serve as a reliable indicator of ELA proficiency.

Key Findings

This study found that:

• Students scoring above 75% on Newsela ELA quizzes were more than twice as likely to reach end-of-year ELA proficiency
• Newsela quiz scores showed a strong positive correlation with MAP Growth Reading scores (r = 0.53, p < .001)
• The correlation remained significant after controlling for prior achievement
• Newsela quizzes function as effective low-stakes formative indicators between benchmark assessments

Who Should Use This Study?

This resource is designed for:

• District assessment leaders
• Curriculum and literacy teams
• Texas administrators and instructional leaders
• Educators monitoring interim ELA progress