PIRLS 2026 – Consortium meets to plan data analysis

The PIRLS 2026 consortium met on 1 October 2026 to continue its planning. The meeting focused on the next steps in analysing the data collected, preparing the reporting, and setting the substantive priorities. Examining reading literacy at the end of fourth grade will provide insights into trends in the development of this key foundational skill, both in Germany and internationally. In addition, key characteristics of reading instruction, teachers, primary schools, and families will be considered, as they represent the conditions under which children learn to read. During this constructive and productive meeting, the consortium also discussed methodological innovations in preparation for the analyses.

The main PIRLS 2026 data collection in Germany had already taken place before the summer holidays; the project is currently in the data-processing phase. In the Southern Hemisphere, data collection is still ongoing and is expected to be completed by December 2026. The international study management will then take responsibility for jointly processing and preparing the data from all participating countries.

The international results are scheduled to be published in December 2027.