The Prediction of Good and Poor Reading Before Kindergarten Entry

A year-group of children was followed from before kindergarten entry to late 8th grade. The Holbrook Screening Battery, admininstered at age 4, correctly predicted 89% of good readers and 75% of poor readers at grade 8. The 12 poorest readers were 4.1 years below grade level and 6.9 years below the mean of the group, in spite of early identification and special help. Their progress was compared with that of two groups who had appeared to be at risk, but who were average readers at grade 8. The main characteristics differentiating poor readers from good were birth history, family history of learning disability, birth position, speech delay, and socioeconomic status.