The Accelerated Reader Program

There are two parts involved in reaching an AR goal. Students must have a certain number of points, and they must have at least an 80% average on the tests they have taken. Both of these must be achieved to complete the goal. At the beginning of each 9 week period, students are given a goal or number of points they need to have earned by the end of the period. All students in these grades should be able to answer the following questions for their parents at any given time: how many points they need to reach their goal, how many points they have so far, and how many more points they need to successfully complete their goal. Along with the points they need to earn, students must also have an average of at least 80% on the tests they have taken to reach their goal.

At the beginning of each 9 week period, students are assessed to determine their reading range. A range identifies the level of books on a student’s comprehension level. Students check out books on their level during the AR period. Our library has access to every AR test made, over 120,000 and almost every book in our library is an AR book. Students have a wide variety of quality literature to select from on their level. Students may also read books they have at home or find at other libraries, the parent resource center, bookstores, or the book fair at our school. Before reading a book from outside our school library, students will need to check to be sure there is an AR quiz available for it. This can be done by going to the AR Book Finder located within Renaissance Learning. (See directions below.)

Students may take only one AR test a day. This rule is in place because we are trying to help students develop the habit of reading everyday and to prevent students from waiting until the last minute to make their goal. Students may only take AR tests at school from 7:50 am to 2:15 pm. Students are expected to read the test and answer the questions independently without help from teachers or parents.  Students must not use the book when taking an AR test.  Students may take a test on a book they have read during Guided Reading. 

Students should be bringing home AR progress reports on a regular basis. Look for this information in their book bag or ask them about it. Ask to look at students’ AR books and ask what they are reading to make their goal. Parents can even read the books with students at home and question them to be sure they understand what they are reading.

You can check your child’s progress on the Central Elementary School website:

Simply select the icon that says Renaissance Learning Web-Based Software in the left column of the homepage. Enter your child’s username and password. All students should know their username and password by heart because this is the information they have to know in order to take an AR test. No one else has access to your child’s information but you and your child. Once you are logged in, it tells you all of your child’s information, such as the last test taken and the score, how many points have been earned for the current AR period or the entire school year. You can even look under the AR Finder to check to see what book titles have AR tests. If you go to the EMAIL tab at the top, you can set up a connection to your email, and every time your child takes a test, it will email you the results of that test.