·
The
ability to read is necessary for students to be successful in school and in
life, and early intervention is essential. Reading at all grade levels is important, but
third grade is observed as the gateway grade, when students transition from
“learning to read” to “reading to learn.” We have work to do in Iowa in reading. Our state’s
reading performance hasn’t changed much in about 20 years, while other states
have made gains. And nearly one in four Iowa third-graders is not proficient in
reading, according to state test results. We must break this pattern by
changing how we find and help students with reading challenges. This is
why Iowa lawmakers adopted a comprehensive early literacy initiative in 2012
that focuses on making sure our students are successful readers by the end of
third grade.
The Early Literacy Progression Law requires:
- An early warning system to screen students in kindergarten through third grade, to identify struggling readers in those grades, and to provide research-based intervention and progress monitoring to get them back on track.
- Communication between schools and parents of children who are struggling.
- Intensive summer reading programs starting in May 2017 for struggling readers at the end of third grade. These programs must meet state standards.
- Retention at the end of third grade for students who have a substantial deficiency in reading, did not complete a summer program, and do not qualify for an exemption.
- An early warning system to screen students in kindergarten through third grade, to identify struggling readers in those grades, and to provide research-based intervention and progress monitoring to get them back on track.
- Communication between schools and parents of children who are struggling.
- Intensive summer reading programs starting in May 2017 for struggling readers at the end of third grade. These programs must meet state standards.
- Retention at the end of third grade for students who have a substantial deficiency in reading, did not complete a summer program, and do not qualify for an exemption.
·
By May
1, 2017, every school district in Iowa must provide an intensive summer reading
program for students identified as having a substantial deficiency in reading
at the end of third grade. Completing the summer reading program will allow
these students to advance to fourth grade. Students
who are substantially deficient in reading at the end of third grade and who
did not complete a summer reading program must be retained in third grade
unless they qualify for an exemption, according to the law.
The bottom line is that Iowa is serious about making sure Iowa children can read, and we will do our best to make sure every child reads successfully.
