Third Grade Reading Guarantee
What's required by Ohio Law?
Understanding the Third Grade Reading Guarantee
Students entering the third grade will not be permitted to be promoted to fourth grade if they score below the state board's 'cut' score for third grade reading assessments.
Districts must assess each student's reading skills in first through third grade by September 30 and November 1 for kindergarten, and identify those students reading 'not on track.'
Districts are required to use state-developed diagnostic assessments in English Language Arts for all first through third grade students. Kindergarten students participate in the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA).
Districts are required to notify the parents of students identified as having reading skills that are 'not on track' immediately following the completion of the assessments, AND develop an individual reading improvement and monitoring plan within 60 days of notification.
What does this mean in the South-Western City School District during the school year?
Our teachers will assess all first through third grade students by September 30, and kindergarten students by November 1, using its reading diagnostic assessments to meet the requirement of Senate Bill 316. These diagnostic assessments are not new in the South-Western City School District as our teachers have already been completing individualized student assessments during the staggered-start days at the beginning of each school year. The results of these assessments have been used to plan for teaching and intervention to meet each child's unique needs.
Our teachers will identify students 'not on track' in kindergarten through third grade.
Parents will be notified if their student has been assessed as 'not on track' in the form of a letter from the principal.
Building teams will create a plan for each student 'not on track' and monitor students' growth.
What can parents do at home?
Talk and listen to your child.
Read together with your child.
Encourage early writing efforts.
Show your child that you read, whether it's the newspaper, magazines or books.
Take your child to the library and check out books to read together.
Start a home library.
Children become readers step-by-step. By age seven, most children are reading. Some take longer than others, and some need extra help. You are the best person to decide which activities work best for your child.
Parent Roadmaps from the Ohio Department of Education
Additional Resources
National PTA - Parents' Guides to Student Success
INFOhio - Third Grade Reading Guarantee - Reading Round the Clock