Foundations of Reading Test

According to House File 2618, candidates who want to earn their teaching license for certain endorsements must take the Foundations of Reading test. This test checks how well they understand the basics in the science of reading and teaching literacy.

As decided by the Iowa Department of Education, the test is required for the following endorsements:

• K-6 Teacher Elementary Classroom, Endorsement 102
• K-8 Reading, Endorsement 148
• PK-K Teacher, PreKindergarten-Kindergarten Classroom, Endorsement 103
• Birth-Grade 3 Inclusive Settings, Endorsement 1001
• K-8 Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate, Endorsement 260

Candidate Information & Requirements

To sign up for the test, candidates should visit the Iowa Pearson website (link coming soon).

Iowa teacher candidates should work with their educator preparation program about when to take the test and opportunities to improve, if needed. If they have questions about the test, they should first contact their college or university.

The test will be given by Pearson. Find more information on the Foundations of Reading assessment website. If candidates have technical questions while registering or taking the test, email Pearson representative Lauren Zielenski at lauren.zielenski@pearson.com for help.

Candidate Resources

The following resources are available to assist candidates in preparation for the Foundations of Reading assessment.

• Pearson’s Preparation Materials 
• Pearson’s Practice Assessment 
• Foundations of Reading Right Start Course 
• Iowa Reading Research Center Modules
• Iowa Department of Education Literacy Instruction webpage
• Science of Reading Defining Guide
• Reading Rockets Reading 101 Learning Modules
• Pearson Annotated Bibliography 
• Pearson Testing Centers in Iowa and Border States
   

Education Preparation Programs Resources

The following resources are available to assist programs in developing curriculum aligned to the assessment.

• Pearson’s Foundations of Reading Assessment Framework
• CEEDAR Syllabus Revision Tool, The Reading League, Rhode Island
• The Center for Reading Science Course Enhancement Tools 

Assessment Results

Programs must give the test to chosen groups of candidates starting in January 2025. They need to report the results from Jan. 2, 2025, to July 30, 2025, by Aug. 1, 2025, and every year after that. Pass rates will be shared on the Iowa Department of Education website starting Aug. 30, 2025.

The passing score, set by the Department, is 240, which is the national benchmark. Each year, colleges must report to the Department by Aug. 1 the percentage of students who scored above, at or below the passing score. Educator preparation programs also need to report services or chances for students to retake the test if they don’t pass with a score of 240.

Contacts

Teacher candidates should talk to their educator preparation program to learn about what they need to do to finish the program.

Contact Pearson directly by emailing Lauren Zielenski at lauren.zielenski@pearson.com.

For more information about the assessment, email idoe.edprep@iowa.gov or Lindsay Harrison at lauren.zielenski@pearson.com.

Staff and teachers in the educator preparation program with questions about the assessment should email idoe.edprep@iowa.gov.