Final answer:
When a student is not performing at grade level in reading, ORF performance data provides insight into reading fluency, while a decoding and word-reading survey focuses on foundational reading skills. Depending on the student's specific struggle, one may be prioritized over the other to gain a clearer understanding and to form an effective intervention strategy.
The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
If initial data show a student is not performing at grade level, the next step is to closely examine which data source? When deciding between A. ORF (Oral Reading Fluency) performance, which includes accuracy and Words Correct Per Minute (WCPM), or B. Results from decoding and word-reading survey, it largely depends on the specific areas where the student is struggling.
ORF is a measure of fluency and includes both accuracy and the rate of reading. It is a good indicator of a student's ability to read connected text fluently, which is critical for comprehension. However, if a student is struggling significantly with reading at the word level and exhibiting issues with phonetic decoding or recognizing sight words, a decoding and word-reading survey can provide more targeted information about a student's reading abilities.
Both assessments are important, but if the student has difficulty with reading fluently, the ORF performance can provide actionable data regarding their reading accuracy and rate. However, if the issue is with the foundational reading skills like decoding, a word-reading survey should be the focus to help identify and address specific skill gaps.
The correct option is A.