For older students (third grade and beyond), the guide recommends starting at the top of the progression with reading comprehension and fluency measures, then moving down as needed.

For emerging readers, the process is reversed, beginning with foundational skills at the bottom of the progression and moving upward. The assessment flow covers key areas including comprehension, fluency, word recognition, decoding/phonics, and phonemic awareness, and provides specific instructional focuses for students who show weakness in each area.

Additionally, the document includes detailed flowcharts for various specific assessments, helping educators analyze data to identify problems with accuracy and automaticity and set appropriate instructional goals