PALS assessments align with both the Common Academic Standards (CAS) in English and the Colorado English Language Proficiency (CELP) Standards. The tasks included in PALS-K, PALS 1-8, and PALS español are representative of the understandings, knowledge, and skills outlined in both CAS and CLEP.

How am I supposed to get my students reading at the text level required by the Colorado Academic Standards?

PALS assesses the foundational skills that students need in order to achieve literacy goals such as those stated in the Colorado Academic Standards. By “identifying” students who do not have these foundational skills, PALS makes it possible to ensure that these students receive needed intervention to catch up.  PALS also provides diagnostic information, such as instructional oral reading levels, so that teachers can provide differentiated instruction to maximize the effect of literacy instruction.

Both PALS assessments and PALS Electronic Lesson Plans are closely aligned with the Colorado Academic Standards curriculum. To make sure students reach end-of-year goals as stated in the Colorado Academic Standards, use PALS data to determine students’ specific areas of instructional need. If you are using the most current PALS data to create small group lesson plans that target students’ needs with developmentally appropriate instruction, then students will progress at a faster rate, and be better prepared to meet the end of year reading goals.