any elem. school teachers???

[toodles]

my daughter is in kindergarten. I am being told that she is reading at level 12. what does this mean? When I was her age, we hade "grade levels" for reading. "she is reading at a 5th grade level", etc. Well, I do know that the goal is for the kindergarten kids to read at a level 4 by the time they are out of kindergarten. She is at level 12 so I know it is good but I don't understand the "levels". any help?????