Finding College- and Career-Ready Grade Levels for Texts: Quick Reference Chart
Quick reference chart for converting leveling systems such as Lexile and Flesch-Kincaid into CCR grade bands.
-
Selecting Grade Level Text
To choose texts that are on grade level for the CCSS and other college- and career-ready standards, use three steps:
1. Use quantitative measures to assign a text to a grade band.
2. Use qualitative measures to locate a text within a specific grade band.
3. Use professional judgment to decide how suited a text is for a specific instructional purpose with a particular set of students. -
Quantitative Tools
Quantitative Tools to Measure Text Complexity: To decide if a text is on grade level for college- and career-ready standards, including the Common Core, start here. These tools quickly identify the grade band for a text.
-
-
Qualitative Tools
Qualitative Tools to Measure Text Complexity: After identifying the grade band for a text, use these tools to determine its specific grade level and what features will make it challenging for students.
-
SCASS Rubric
SCASS Rubric for Informational Text
SCASS Rubric for Literature
Qualitative Dimensions of Text Complexity Chart: Scales for evaluating the qualitative features of text complexity: text structure, language clarity and conventions, knowledge demands, and levels of meaning/purpose
Qualitative Scale for Text Complexity
Grades 2-3
Grade 4-5
Grade 6-8
Grade 9-10
Grade 11-CCR
Sample Qualitative Scale
Example of completed qualitative scale for the 9-10 band.
Companion to Qualitative Scales
Detailed explanation of qualitative features; to be consulted in filling out the qualitative scale.
-
- Analysis of Text for Complexity
-
Text Analysis Toolkit
Select and analyze texts by reflecting on the identities of educators and the students they serve, using multiple lenses, and considering implications for use in specific contexts.
View