Accelerated reading programs intend to encourage independent reading among students. These programs attempt to foster a genuine love for reading from a young age which a child will, hopefully, carry into adulthood.
In many cases, grade level alone is not an accurate depiction of an individual's reading level. Accelerated reading programs test each student to determine his true reading level, which may be higher or lower than his current grade level. Accelerated reading programs maintain that students who are reading at the correct level are less likely to become frustrated or feel defeated. Thus, students reading books within their own skill levels are less likely to lose motivation for reading.
Strong reading skills have often been linked with better grades and a higher level of academic success. Therefore, accelerated reading programs are designed with the intention of improving a student's ability to read and truly understand what he is reading. These programs intend to improve a student's overall ability to learn by building reading skills.
Accelerated reading programs attempt to assist educators in monitoring each student's individual reading level by providing quiz results and progress assessments to teachers. These programs are intended to be a tool for a teacher to use in evaluating each student's reading skills and comprehension levels as well as to track a student's reading progress throughout a school year.