Ohio's Third Grade Reading Guarantee
Ohio's Third Grade Reading Guarantee is a program to identify students from kindergarten through grade 3 that are behind in reading. Schools will provide help and support to make sure students are on track for reading success by the end of third grade.
As part of Ohio State law, third grade students have to reach a certain score on a state-approved reading assessment to be promoted to fourth grade (referred to as the Third Grade Reading Guarantee). All third grade students are afforded the opportunity to take the Third Grade ELA Ohio State Test (OST) two times during the academic year, in the fall and in the spring. This fall, Cincinnati Public School students will take the Third Grade ELA OST at their enrolled school the week of October 23rd, 2023 through October 27th, 2023.
What is the Third Grade ELA Ohio State Test (OST)?
The Third Grade ELA Ohio State Test measures a student’s academic performance in English Language Arts. More information on this test can be found on the Ohio Department of Education’s website. Third grade students benefit from the Fall Third Grade OST because it offers them an additional opportunity to reach a promotable score under the Third Grade Reading Guarantee requirements.
Advancing to Fourth Grade
Third-grade students must meet a promotable score on the state reading test to move on to the fourth grade. In 2023-2024 the minimum score for advancement is 690 on the Third Grade ELA OST or a score of 48 on the Reading subtest of the Third Grade ELA OST. The score must be attained either in the fall, spring, or summer administration of the Third Grade ELA Ohio State Test.
Cincinnati Public Schools also administers the iReady Reading assessments. This assessment can also be used to achieve a promotable score as defined by the state of Ohio when administered in the winter, spring, or summer. The minimum score for advancement on iReady Reading assessments is 515.
Unless your child attains a promotable score on at least one of the assessments described above by the end of third grade, your child will be retained under the State of Ohio Third Grade Reading Guarantee legislation. However, beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, a student’s parent or guardian, in consultation with the student’s reading teacher and principal, may request that a student be promoted to fourth grade regardless of the student’s score on Ohio’s State Test for grade 3 English language arts. Students promoted to fourth grade through this exemption must continue to receive intensive reading instruction until the student is able to read at grade level. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher.