In May 2018, the PIRLS 2021 Reading Development Group (RDG) held its 1st Meeting in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The RDG reviewed the updated PIRLS 2021 Framework and Item Writing Guidelines, and reviewed and revised literary and informational passages for PIRLS 2021.

Pictured above in attendance were (back row, from left): Michael O. Martin of the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College, Julian Fraillon of Australia, Charlotte Aldrich of the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College, Jenny Wiksten Folkeryd of Sweden, Andrea Netten of IEA, Galina Zuckerman of the Russian Federation, Liz Twist of England, Latifa Alfalasi of the United Arab Emirates, Ina V.S. Mullis of the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College, (front row) Verónica Díez Girado of Spain, Elizabeth Pang of Singapore, Marc Colmant of France, and Karen Wixson of the United States. Not pictured are Jan Mejding of Denmark and Erin Wry of the TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center at Boston College.

The RDG will hold its 2nd Meeting to review PIRLS field test passages and items as well as ePIRLS tasks and items in April 2019.