In a bold move to improve foundational literacy among Filipino learners, the Department of Education (DepEd) has introduced the Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment (CRLA). This is a new tool designed to quickly and accurately assess the reading abilities of early-grade students. As part of the MATATAG curriculum’s goal to ensure every child can read and understand at grade level, the CRLA aims to help teachers identify struggling readers early and provide timely interventions. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the CRLA, from its purpose and components to how you can administer it effectively in your classroom. We have uploaded here the official assessment tools and scoresheet for DepEd CRLA, which you can download now.
The Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment (CRLA) is DepEd’s latest initiative in cooperation with ABC+ and USAID under the MATATAG curriculum aimed at strengthening foundational literacy. Designed as a quick, this is focused diagnostic tool on literacy competencies. Also, it helps teachers assess learners’ reading and writing skills at the beginning of the school year. This ensures that instruction is based on actual learner needs, supporting the MATATAG curriculum’s goal of building strong learning foundations from the start.
What is CRLA?
The CRLA is a reading assessment for Key Stage 1 (Grades 1 to 3) focused on identifying foundational literacy gaps, following the standards of the MATATAG Curriculum. It is designed to be administered quickly at the start of the school year to help teachers create literacy interventions as early as possible. Furthermore, data from this standardized assessment are used to design and implement interventions for learners who lack essential literacy skills. The CRLA identifies learners’ strengths and weaknesses in reading fluency, word recognition, phonological awareness, and basic comprehension.
The CRLA supports data-driven instruction by giving teachers clear insights into learners’ literacy levels. In addition, it allows them to plan appropriate interventions and classroom strategies. It plays a key role in DepEd’s push to enhance early literacy outcomes, reduce learning gaps, and ensure that no learner is left behind in mastering the essential skills for reading and understanding written text.
CRLA vs. Phil-IRI vs. ELLNA: What’s the Difference?
Based on the School Calendar for 2025–2026, the testing window for Beginning of School Year (BoSY) assessments—such as the Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment (CRLA)—is scheduled to start on June 16, 2025. The Department of Education requires teachers to conduct rigorous assessments of both the literacy and numeracy skills of their learners. These assessments may include CRLA, Phil-IRI, and MFAT, among others.
You might wonder why the department has introduced multiple assessments that seem similar in nature and purpose. This can lead to confusion, resulting in the interchangeable administration of tests and cross-data reporting. However, while the assumption may appear logical, CRLA, Phil-IRI, and ELLNA are, in fact, distinct assessments with different purposes, target learners, competencies assessed, and administration schedules.
BoSY Assessment Differentiation
Below is a summary of their respective purposes, target learners, competencies assessed, and dates of administration.
| Feature | CRLA (Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment) | Phil-IRI (Philippine Informal Reading Inventory) | ELLNA (Early Language, Literacy, and Numeracy Assessment) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Diagnostic tool to assess foundational literacy skills | Assesses reading proficiency and comprehension | National assessment of literacy/numeracy proficiency |
| Target Grade Levels | Grades 1 to 3 | Grades 3 and up | Grade 3 only |
| When Administered | June 16 – July 16, 2025 | June 16 – July 16, 2025 | July 28 – August 1, 2025 |
| Skills Measured | Letter sound, word recognition, decoding, fluency | Oral reading fluency, silent reading comprehension | Language, reading, writing, and numeracy skills |
| Assessment Type | Diagnostic, fast-paced, one-on-one | Informal, oral/silent reading | Standardized, pencil-and-paper or tablet-based |
| Part of MATATAG Curriculum? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (pre-Matatag, but still in use) | ❌ No (but aligned with previous K–12 literacy standards) |
Download the CRLA Toolkit
We know that you’re on this page not only to learn about the CRLA but also to find the official assessment toolkit. Thus, we’ve made sure to include the link to those assessment materials for your convenience. Remember, these documents are from the Department of Education, so please use them with caution and avoid making any revisions.
- Region I (CRLA)
- Region 2 (CRLA)
- Region 3 (CRLA)
- Region 4A CALABARZON (CRLA)
- Region 4B MIMAROPA (CRLA)
- Region 5 (CRLA)
- Region 6 (CRLA)
- Region 7 (CRLA)
- Region 8 (CRLA)
- Region 9 (CRLA)
- Region 10 (CRLA)
- Region 11 (CRLA)
- Region 12 (CRLA)
- National Capital Region (Metro Manila) (CRLA)
- CARAGA (CRLA)
- CAR Cordillera (CRLA)
- BARMM (CRLA)
CRLA Implementation Timeline and Guidelines
This simple how-to guide provides step-by-step instructions for teachers on how to effectively prepare for, administer, and score the Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment (CRLA) for Grades 1 to 3.
- Prepare Before the Assessment
Begin by thoroughly reviewing the Teacher’s Booklet to understand the structure, content, and scoring of the CRLA. Gather all necessary materials such as the Learner’s Booklet, Learner Score Sheets, pencils, and scratch paper. Make sure a timer or stopwatch is ready, as the entire assessment should take around 8 to 15 minutes per language.
- Begin the Assessment
Start the session by building rapport with the learner to make them feel at ease. Clearly explain that the assessment is not graded and that they should simply try their best. Inform the learner that some tasks will require oral answers while others will require writing, and all tasks are timed.
- Administration Each Part
Follow the CRLA flowchart appropriate for the learner’s grade level and language. For Grade 1, assess in Language 1 (mother tongue); for Grade 2, assess in L1 and L2 (Filipino); and for Grade 3, assess in L1, L2, and L3 (English). Begin with Part 1, which includes decoding and word recognition tasks, and proceed to Part 2, which focuses on reading fluency and comprehension.
- Record and Classify Results
As the learner completes each task, record their responses and scores on the Learner Score Sheet accurately. Use the scoring data to identify the learner’s reading profile, such as fluent, developing, or low-emerging reader. If a Grade 3 learner performs poorly in Part 1 (e.g., scores 10 or below), proceed with the Grade 2 CRLA for a more accurate assessment of their level.
Related Resources
You can find other related teaching resources crafted by our teachers, as well as materials available in the public domain. Let’s explore our library of nearly 10,000 learning exemplars (LEs), modules, PowerPoint presentations, templates, and more.
- Rapid Mathematics Assessment (RMA)
- Philippine Informal Reading Inventory (Phil IRI)
- Early Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (ELLNA)