Jacksonville North Pulaski School District
Curriculum and Instruction | Literacy and Reading Support
The Jacksonville North Pulaski School District (JNPSD) is committed to ensuring that every student develops the foundational reading skills necessary for academic success.
In accordance with the Arkansas Right to Read Act and the Arkansas LEARNS Act, JNPSD supports evidence-based literacy instruction, early identification of reading difficulties, targeted interventions, and ongoing communication with families.
Our goal is for every student to read proficiently by the end of third grade and continue developing strong literacy skills throughout their education.
Arkansas law requires public schools to provide reading instruction grounded in the Science of Reading.
The Science of Reading is a body of research explaining how students learn to read and which instructional practices effectively support literacy development.
Foundational literacy instruction includes:
Phonemic awareness
Phonics and decoding
Reading fluency
Vocabulary development
Reading comprehension
Oral language development
JNPSD is committed to providing literacy instruction aligned with Arkansas Academic Standards and applicable state requirements.
Students in kindergarten through third grade participate in literacy screening and assessment to help educators identify reading strengths and areas requiring additional support.
Assessment information is used to:
Identify students who may be experiencing reading difficulties.
Guide classroom instruction.
Determine appropriate reading interventions.
Monitor individual student progress.
Communicate student reading performance to parents and guardians.
JNPSD uses assessment results and other instructional information to support student literacy development.
Students identified as needing additional reading support receive interventions aligned with their individual literacy needs.
An Individual Reading Plan (IRP) documents identified reading needs, instructional goals, interventions, and student progress.
Parents and guardians are important partners in this process. Schools communicate with families about reading performance, instructional supports, and strategies for continued reading development at home.
Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, Arkansas requires third-grade students to meet the state's minimum reading standard for promotion to fourth grade unless they qualify for an allowable good-cause exemption or another state-authorized promotion pathway.
The minimum standard is Level 2 or higher on the Grade 3 ATLAS Summative English Language Arts assessment.
Students scoring Level 1 may require additional evaluation, interventions, and consideration of available promotion options.
Promotion decisions follow Arkansas law and Division of Elementary and Secondary Education guidance.
Arkansas provides certain good-cause exemptions for students who do not meet the minimum reading standard. Depending on individual circumstances and required documentation, these may include:
Students with qualifying disabilities.
Eligible English learners.
Students who have previously been retained.
Students who have received qualifying intensive reading interventions.
Students whose documented academic performance demonstrates the required reading skills.
Other students meeting state-authorized good-cause criteria.
Schools review eligibility individually according to state requirements.
Families will be notified when their child is at risk of not meeting the promotion standard and will have opportunities to discuss available instructional supports and promotion options.
Students who do not meet the third-grade reading standard and are retained or promoted through a good-cause exemption receive additional literacy supports as required by Arkansas law.
These supports include appropriate teacher assignment, intensive evidence-based literacy instruction, individual reading interventions, progress monitoring, and a Read-at-Home Plan aligned with the student's Individual Reading Plan.
Parents and guardians play an essential role in developing strong readers.
Families are encouraged to:
Read with their children regularly.
Discuss stories, vocabulary, and new ideas.
Practice reading skills recommended by teachers.
Review assessment results and progress updates.
Communicate with teachers about reading concerns.
Participate in school reading conferences and intervention planning.
Third-Grade Promotion Requirements and Toolkit
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/third-grade-promotion
ATLAS Assessment Family Toolkit
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/public-school-accountability/assessment/family-toolkit
Arkansas English Language Arts and Literacy Resources
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/curriculum-support/english-language-arts
Arkansas Third-Grade Promotion Guidance — Commissioner's Memo LS-26-018
https://adecm.ade.arkansas.gov/ViewApprovedMemo.aspx?Id=5789
Updated Third-Grade Promotion Guidance — Commissioner's Memo LS-26-035
https://adecm.ade.arkansas.gov/ViewApprovedMemo.aspx?Id=5813
Parents and guardians who have questions about reading assessments, literacy interventions, Individual Reading Plans, or third-grade promotion should contact their child's teacher, school principal, or the JNPSD Curriculum and Instruction Department.
Jacksonville North Pulaski School District
Curriculum and Instruction Department
Website: https://www.jnpsd.org
This information is provided to help families understand Arkansas literacy requirements. Applicable Arkansas law and current DESE rules and guidance govern implementation.