Reading Intervention Law-3rd Graders

OSPI K-4 Literacy Requirements

In 2013 the Washington State legislature passed a senate bill (ESSB 5946) regarding K-4 literacy and English Language Arts (ELA). It was amended by SSB 5803 in 2015.

It requires third grade students who receive a score of Below Basic (Level 1) or Basic (Level 2) on the state assessment in ELA, to be placed on an improvement plan for reading. The state requires parents and school staff to meet together in the spring, after the assessment, to create a plan to help improve the child’s reading skills. We do not yet know what the interventions will be for the current school year, but some of the intervention options offered by the Washougal School District last year included:

• • Summer School-intensive literacy instruction, which included access to an internet-based reading intervention program that could be accessed at home and used throughout the summer.

  • Summer At-Home Internet-Based Reading Intervention Program that included parent training and weekly meetings with a district coordinator

The assessment is quite rigorous and challenging. The state assessment reading skills are highly interconnected with listening and written language skills. Scores will not be available until testing is completed in the spring, however, the third grade team wants you to be aware of the state requirements early so that we can work together to help students be successful throughout the year.