Use and Impact of PIRLS
Germany’s participation in PIRLS and other large scale assessments has provided the empirical context to drive policies and initiatives aimed at increasing equity in educational opportunity among all students. When mapping and contextualizing PIRLS and other large scale studies within Germany’s major policy discussions and changes, four areas of influence can be identified: the introduction of system monitoring;57 the introduction of nationwide educational standards;58 the increase in empirical educational research;59,60 and the launch of programs for the evaluation and development of the curricula. In addition to the above mentioned reading initiatives promoted in Germany—as indirect results of greater data availability from these monitoring and evaluation efforts within Germany and in an international comparative context—PIRLS has provided much of the data used in the recent country report of literacy in Germany as part of the European Literacy Policy Network. This report is intended to enable member states of the EU to improve literacy policies with valid and reliable data from international studies, helping children, young adults, and adults to be completely literate.61