North Carolina Read to Achieve A Parents ’ Guide to NC House Bill 950

1. North Carolina Read to AchieveA Parents’ Guide to NC House Bill 950 Cornelius Elementary School

2. Agenda • Goal of the law • Components of Read to Achieve • How this could impact your child

3. What is Read To Achieve? • Read to Achieve is part of the Excellent Public Schools Act which became law in July 2012. • This law supports the NC State Board of Education’s mission: • Every public school student will graduate from high school globally competitive for work and post-secondary education and prepared for life in the 21st century. • Effective during the 2013-2014 school year

4. Goal for Read To Achieve § 115C-83.1. State goal. “The goal of the State is to ensure that every student read at or above grade level by the end of third grade and continue to progress in reading proficiency so that he or she can read, comprehend, integrate, and apply complex texts needed for secondary education and career success.” (Excellent Public Schools Act, NC HB 950/S.L. 2012)

5. 7 Components of Read to Achieve Comprehensive plan for reading achievement Kindergarten entry assessment process Facilitating early grade reading proficiency Process for the elimination of social promotion Plan for successful reading development of retained students Parent/guardian notification process Accountability measures process

6. 4. Elimination of Social Promotion Your child must demonstrate reading proficiency to be promoted to 4th grade.

7. What is social promotion? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary*, social promotion is the practice of promoting a student from one grade level to the next on the basis of age rather than academic achievement. *m-w.com

8. What is reading proficiency? Reading proficiency is the ability to read at the level which the state deems appropriate at the end of each grade level as measured by the Reading End-of-Grade test.

9. So what does this mean for my Cornelius 3rd grader?

11. Good Cause Exemptions • Limited English Proficient students • Students with IEPs that include alternate assessments and reading interventions • Proficiency on an alternate assessment after EOG or summer reading camp • Proficiency through a reading portfolio • Previously retained more than once

12. 5. Plan for Successful Reading Development of Retained Students • If your child does not demonstrate reading proficiency they will be able to attend CMS Summer Reading Camp. • At the end of CMS Summer Reading Camp, if your child does not demonstrate reading proficiency, your child will receive additional intensive reading support during the following school year.

14. Resources North Carolina Department of Instruction website: http://www.dpi.state.nc.us Read to Achieve Live Binder: http://www.livebinders.com/play/play/850102 CMS Read to Achieve Resources: http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/parents/Pages/ReadtoAchieve.aspx

15. If I have questions throughout this process, whom should I contact? Please contact your child’s teacher with questions and concerns.