How the reference point for the Reading Test for New York State Elementary Schools was set is described. A sampling plan was used to define de facto reading standards in grades 5 and 6. Textbooks in English-Language Arts, science, social studies, health, and safety most used in those grades were determined by mailing a questionnaire to the superintendents of 41 randomly selected school districts in New York. Passages from the texts were analyzed using the Bormuth readability formula, and then converted to Degrees of Reading Power (DRP) units. Results indicated that the readability of textbooks was about the same for grades 5 and 6, and was relatively homogeneous across subjects and within subjects for grade 6. Administered at the beginning of grade 6, the standard reference point for the test was based upon the mean readability in DRP units of grades 5 and 6 textbooks combined. Remediation is required for students scoring below the reference point. (RL)