Setting Reading Practice Certification Goals for Students – Accelerated Reader

When you set Reading Practice certification goals, Accelerated Reader automatically monitors student progress toward the goals and awards certifications when students meet the requirements.

Which certification levels are available?

Certification Level	Criteria	Recommended Number of Recertifications
Ready Reader	Accumulate 5 points on books read To, read With, and/or read Independently.	No more than 5 times
Independent Reader	Read at least 3 books Independently with a 1.2 or higher ATOS book level (or 160L Lexile®* measure) and earn 10 points on books at any level. Only books read Independently count toward the 3-book goal, but books read To, With, or Independently count toward the points.	Do not recertify at this level
Rising Reader	Read 3 books Independently with a 1.6 or higher ATOS book level (or 250L Lexile® measure) and earn 10 points from books at or above that book level. Only books read Independently count toward the 3-book goal and points.	No more than 5 times
Super Reader	Read 3 books Independently with a 2.0 or higher ATOS book level (or 330L Lexile® measure) that are each worth at least 1 point. Only books read Independently count toward the 3-book goal and points.	No more than 5 times
Advanced Reader	Read 3 books with a 3.0 or higher ATOS book level (or 510L Lexile® measure) that are each worth at least 2 points. Only books read Independently count toward the certification.	No more than 5 times
Star Reader	Read 3 books with a 4.0 or higher ATOS book level (or 660L Lexile® measure) that are each worth at least 4 points. Only books read Independently count toward the certification.	No more than 5 times
Classic Reader	Read 3 books with a 6.0 or higher ATOS book level (or 900L Lexile® measure) that are each worth at least 7 points. Only books read Independently count toward certification.	No more than 5 times
Honors Reader	Read books Independently from a special list of challenging literature (created by teachers and librarians), and accumulate 100 points from the quizzes. Teachers must track this certification manually using information in the software about books read and points earned; the software does not track this certification. TOPS Reports and the Student Record Report can help teachers track this certification.	Not needed at this level

Certification goals are different from other Reading Practice goals (such as percent correct, reading range, and points). Certification goals are not available if you have chosen to use the K-2 goal model for Reading Practice goals; students earn badges in that goal model instead of certifications.

Who can do this with default user permissions?

District Level Administrators, School Level Administrators, Teachers

District-level administrators can set goals for all classes and students at all schools. School-level administrators can set goals for all classes and students at their schools. Teachers can set goals for their classes and students. Other staff cannot view or set goals unless they have been granted more permissions.

Follow these steps:

If you have a Home page tile like the first example below, to open the Accelerated Reader Record Book, select Accelerated Reader 360 Independent Reading; then, select Record Book & Goals in the menu. If your home page is Renaissance Next, select AR under My Apps on the left side of the page as shown in the second example below; then, select Record Book & Goals in the menu that opens.
At the top of the page, you will see a School drop-down list if you have access to more than one school and a Class drop-down list if you have access to more than one class. Use the drop-down list(s) to select the school and class whose information you want to view. You can view information for one class at a time.
Select the Certifications tab.
Check the students who need the same new certification goal. (Students who have no goal will be checked by default.) If you want to set a different goal for some students, repeat these steps with those students after you set the first goal.

If you select students who already have a goal, the new goal that you set will replace the current goal.

Select Set Goals for Selected above the table.
In the window that opens, use the drop-down list to select the type of goal that you want to set.
Select a Start Date option:

After student's last certification: The goal will start after the student achieved his or her previous goal in this school year. If there is no previous goal, the new goal will start today.
Start of selected marking period: The goal will start at the beginning of the marking period that you select from the drop-down list. Marking periods that have been added for your school and this school year are listed.
Selected date: Select the calendar and use it to choose the date when you want the goal to start.

To go to the next or previous month in the calendar, use the arrows at the top of the window.

You can also select the month name (MAR 2019 in the example above) and then choose a different year and month. When you have found the month that you want, select a date; be sure to choose a date within the current school year and the class period.

Select Save. The window will close, and you will see the new goal(s) in the table.

If any of the students already has a certification goal, you will be asked if you want to overwrite the existing goal with the new goal that you are setting. If you want to continue and overwrite the goal, select Overwrite Goals. If not, select Cancel, check only those students who don't already have a certification goal, and repeat the steps above.