Developed for the America Reads initiative, this paper presents the LEARNS (Linking Education and America Reads through National Service) Literacy Assessment Profile (LLAP), a student assessment system that is designed to improve providers' ability to deliver high quality literacy programs to students, assess students' literacy understanding, set appropriate instructional goals, and evaluate program effectiveness. The LLAP facilitates identification and implementation of the multiple skills and strategies children need to become successful readers and writers; assesses children's literacy progress over time; and provides a system for recording and analyzing data needed for program evaluation. The LLAP presented in the paper addresses three particular stages of literacy development: emergent, beginning, and early independent. Sections of the paper discuss: introducing the LLAP to tutors; getting started; and suggestions for helping tutors use the record keeping form. Three sample record keeping forms and a bibliography of children's books organized by the three developmental stages are included. The paper also discusses when, during the year, to use the LLAP; the role of the adult when determining a rating; determining the most appropriate text for children; the tutor's role in data recording; aggregating data and constructing reports. Contains 13 references and numerous recording forms and sample data tabulations. Appended are the forms for each stage of literacy development: emergent, beginning, and early independent. (RS)