What is the focus of Claim 1 in the AZMerit English Language Arts assessment?

Claim 1 in the AZMerit English Language Arts assessment is centered on reading comprehension, specifically evaluating students' abilities to understand and analyze both literary and informational texts. This focus is vital as it reflects the importance of comprehending various forms of written content, which is essential for academic success across all subjects. The assessment emphasizes skills such as identifying main ideas, supporting details, and making inferences—key components of reading comprehension that are necessary for effective communication and critical thinking.

Other options, such as creative writing skills, mathematical problem-solving techniques, and listening and speaking skills, pertain to different aspects of language arts or are part of other subject areas. These components are important but do not align with the specific focus of Claim 1 in the assessment framework. Thus, the emphasis on reading comprehension of literary and informational texts underscores the foundational role that reading plays in a comprehensive language arts education.