Why is comprehension not a primary focus when assessing reading fluency?

Fluency in reading refers to the ability to read text smoothly and accurately at an appropriate speed. It encompasses technical skills such as the ability to decode words efficiently and to recognize them automatically. The emphasis on these technical aspects is why comprehension is not a primary focus when assessing reading fluency. When fluency is assessed, it typically involves measuring how well a student can read aloud in a way that sounds natural and fluid, which relies heavily on the mechanical skills of reading rather than on the understanding of the text being read. While comprehension is certainly a critical component of overall reading ability, the assessment of fluency hones in on how well a reader can perform the act of reading itself, independent of the deeper understanding of the material.