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READING IN GRADE 3:�A PARENT’S GUIDE TO “READ TO ACHIEVE”

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WHAT IS READ TO ACHIEVE?

“Read to Achieve” is a North Carolina legislative act that states:

  • All students must be proficient readers by the end of third grade. In other words, your child must read on a third grade level by the end of this school year in order to be promoted to the fourth grade.
  • Students who are not proficient readers by the end of third grade must be given extra support.

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WHY DOES READING PROFICIENCY MATTER?

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READING DRIVES ALL INSTRUCTION!

If a student has difficulty in the subject of reading, he/she will have trouble reading and understanding information in Science, Social Studies, and Math books and handouts. It will also be hard for him/her to read and understand instructions and directions for classwork and tests.

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HOW WILL PROFICIENCY BE DETERMINED?

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Third Grade Benchmarks

There are several opportunities to demonstrate 3rd grade reading proficiency.

Name of Assessment

Benchmark

Purpose

DIBELS 8 Benchmark (BOY)

725 Lexile

Establish a baseline of a student’s skills in relation to foundational reading skills.

NC 3rd grade Beginning of Grade (BOG) Assessment

Level 3,4,5

Establish a baseline of a beginning 3rd grade student’s overall reading skills.

The BOG differs from DIBELS 8 in that it provides an overall picture of a student’s ability to access third grade level standards. DIBELS 8 focuses on ensuring students master the foundational reading skills that they need to become proficient readers through benchmarks and ongoing progress monitoring.

DIBELS 8 Benchmark (MOY)

725 Lexile

Monitor a student’s reading skills.

DIBELS 8 Benchmark (EOY)

725 Lexile

Monitor a student’s reading skills.

NC 3rd grade End of Grade (EOG) Assessment

Level 3,4,5

Measure a student performance on the 3rd grade goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the NC Standard Course of Study.

NC 3rd grade EOG Retest

Level 3,4,5

Measure a student performance on the 3rd grade goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the NC Standard Course of Study.

NC RTA Assessment

Level 3,4,5

Measure a student performance on the 3rd grade goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the NC Standard Course of Study.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Read to Achieve

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HOW WILL I KNOW HOW MY CHILD IS DOING?

*Beginning of year conferences will be happening soon, please watch for more information from your child’s teacher.

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*After each round of testing, a progress letter will be sent home letting you know if your child has/has not met RTA

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WHAT IF MY CHILD DOESN’T DEMONSTRATE PROFICIENCY ON ANY ASSESSMENTS BY THE END OF THE YEAR?

If a student does not pass any of the assessments, he/she will be invited to attend Reading Camp during the summer to help acquire the skills needed to be proficient.

Reading Camp:

  • Includes small-group reading instruction
  • Over the summer
  • Offered at NO cost to parents
  • Transportation is provided
  • At the end of Reading Camp, students are given another opportunity to show proficiency through the RtA reading test
  • More information will come out from CMS closer to the end of the year

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WHAT IF A STUDENT DOESN’T SHOW PROFICIENCY AFTER READING CAMP?

If a student does not show proficiency after reading camp, that student will receive a “retained reading” label on his/her record.

The student will be placed in a fourth grade classroom, where he/she will receive intensive reading interventions and transitional third and fourth grade reading instruction. One-on-one and small group instruction will be implemented.

A reading assessment will be administered in October/November. If the student shows proficiency, there will be a mid-year promotion and the “retained reading” label will be removed from his/her record.

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ARE THERE ANY EXEMPTIONS?

Yes. Students may be exempt from mandatory retention in third grade , but eligible for reading camp and extra services if one of the following applies:

  • Student is Limited English Proficient (LEP) with less than 2 years of instruction in an ESL program
  • Student has disabilities and an IEP which indicates
    • The use of Extend1 assessment
    • At least a 2 school-year delay in performance
    • Receipt of intensive reading interventions for at least 2 school years
  • Students who have received reading intervention and previously been retained more than once in K-3 grades

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HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD

Strategies to Improve Reading

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Support At Home

  • Read with your child. Practice makes perfect and the only way to get better at reading is to read.

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  • I-Ready student individualized pathway will be available - More information will be shared at conferences by your child’s teacher

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QUESTIONS ABOUT READ TO ACHIEVE?

We realize this is a LOT of new information!

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If you have questions please utilize the RTA questions form on the Parent square post, or please contact your child’s 3rd grade teacher or Mrs. Hvozdik at tabatha.coulter@cms.k12.nc.us