The Importance of Reading

Our schools recognize the impact of reading on a student’s education and have placed an emphasis on helping early elementary students learn essential foundational literacy skills.  Up to 3rd grade, students are learning to read while after 3rd grade, students are reading to learn. Reading will help a student learn about the content in most other subject areas.  Research shows that spending 20 minutes a day reading with a child will help him/her develop critical reading skills. Since a child will spend over 900 hours in a year at school and 7,800 hours at home, it is important for schools and families to work in a partnership to help each child become a successful reader.

Understanding the Law

In October 2016, HB 4822 was signed by Governor Snyder and became Public Act 306 of 2016  (the Read by Third Grade Act). This law will affect students in the current Kindergarten classes and in subsequent grades thereafter.  This law attempts to ensure that more students will achieve a score of at least proficient in English Language Arts on the 3rd Grade state assessment.  Also, PA 306 requires the implementation of a Multi-Tiered System of Support elements to ensure that early intervention takes place for at risk students.  PA 306 also legislates a process to retain students that fail to read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade.

For current students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade, each child’s reading progress will be closely monitored.   If a child is not reading at or above grade level, an individualized reading improvement plan (IRIP) will be created and shared with you. The plan includes extra instruction, ongoing checks, and a Read at Home plan.  You will be notified if your child may be retained.

For students in grades Kindergarten through 3rd grade, our school will test your child to identify if he or she needs extra help in reading.  If identified, our school will provide your child with an individual reading improvement plan (IRIP) with a Read at Home plan. Starting in 2019-20, a 3rd grade student will not be promoted to 4th grade unless he or she receives a score of not less than one year behind in a state reading assessment, shows a grade 3 reading level on another approved test, or demonstrates a 3rd grade reading level through a portfolio.

If your 3rd grade child does not meet the criteria for passing 3rd grade reading as measured by the state, you have the right to meet with our school’s administrator  and the right to request a Good Cause Exemption within 30 days of initial notification. You also have the right and (are encouraged) to be involved throughout your son’s or daughter’s entire literacy education.

A Good Cause Exemption as stated in PA 306 includes the following:

• Does the student have an IEP or 504 plan?
• Is the student limited in his or her English proficiency and has received less than three years of instruction in an English language learner program?
• Has the student been previously retained with having two or more years of intensive reading intervention?
• Has the student been enrolled in our district for less than 2 years without an individualized reading plan?

If the answer is yes to any of the possible scenarios listed above, our district’s superintendent (or designated school official) will make the final decision and share it with you within 30 days prior to the start of school.