Florida 3rd Grade Promotion/Retention Law

1. Florida 3rd Grade Promotion/Retention Law • The Florida State Legislature passed a law in 2002 that affects the promotion /retention of students in 3rd grade. • In March your child will be taking the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). • If your child scores a Level 2 or above on the Reading Sunshine State Standards portion of the FCAT or a 51st percentile or above on the Reading Norm Referenced Test portion of the FCAT, he or she is eligible to be promoted.

2. No Child Left Behind • According to the new law, if a student scores a Level 1 on the FCAT in Reading, he/she Will be retained, regardless of grades received on progress reports. However, a Level 1 student who scores below the 51st percentile may be promoted if he/she meets one of the following six “good cause” exemptions identified by the state:

3. SIX GOOD CAUSES 1.Students who demonstrate through a student portfolio that they are reading at least at a Level 2 performance on FCAT. Every third grader in Pinellas County will have a portfolio. 2.Limited English proficient students who have had less than 2 years of instruction in the English for Speakers of Other Languages program.

4. Good Cause-continued 3.Students with disabilities whose Individual Education Plan (IEP) indicates that participation in the statewide assessment program is not appropriate (ex., special diploma). 4.Students who score at or above 51st percentile on the Stanford Achievement Test-9 (SAT-9) that will be administered one time only at the end of the school year.

5. Good Cause-continued 5.Students with disabilities who participate in the FCAT and who have an IEP or a Section 504 plan that indicates that the students has received intensive remediation in reading for more than 2 years but still demonstrates a deficiency in reading and was previously retained in kindergarten, grade 1 or grade 2.

6. Good Cause-continued 6.Students who have received intensive remediation in reading for 2 or more years but still demonstrate a deficiency and were previously retained in kindergarten, grade 1 or grade 2 for a total of 2 years. • The principal will recommend any good cause exemptions, based on evaluative data, to the district superintendent who will accept or reject the recommendations.

7. Questions? • Ask your teacher for clarification. • Definitely sign up for a conference. • Don’t wait until the last minute to take action.

8. Reading and Your Child You can make a difference!

9. Meet with your child’s teacher. • Find out what your child’s reading ability is. Ask for lexile levels. • Find books that are appropriate for your child’s independent reading level. • Use these books at home to reinforce the skills and strategies taught at school.

10. What does your child like to read? Find out!

11. Explore reading together! • Go to the library and look at different types of reading material. • Visit a book store that has a comfortable area for you and your child to sit and spend time exploring books. • Point out reading opportunities in daily activities.

12. Make reading important! • Establish a “Drop Everything and Read” time at home each day. • Have all family members involved. • Turn off all TV’s and other distractions, find a comfy place and enjoy your book! • Set the example that Reading is important and fun.

13. Reading and Writing What’s the connection?

14. Reading and Writing… • Are constructive processes • Share similar kinds of knowledge • When used together increases achievement in both areas. • Are both necessary for adequate performance.

15. Using Writing to Support Reading at Home It can be done!

16. Response Logs • Use a spiral notebook and have your child spend a few minutes responding to what they have read. • Use the list of response log ideas to keep your child interested and reinforce a variety of reading and writing skills at the same time.

17. Assessments at School They are informative and important!

18. Reading Assessments • Your child will take Common Assessments five times each year beginning in first grade. • If your child does not meet expectations on this assessment the teacher will use further assessments to determine how to best meet your child’s instructional needs. You will also receive notice that your child is below expectations and a potential retainee. An AIP will be created and discussed with parents.

19. What can you do? • Meet with the teacher to review the assessments that your child completed. • Make notes of specific areas in which your child will need extra support. • Ask your child’s teacher for suggestions for reinforcement at home. • Know what your child is doing at school. • Review papers that come home with your child. • Stay involved.

20. Helping your child at home. • Activities before reading • Activities during reading • Activities after reading • Use the material we are providing for support at home.

21. Children who are successful readers are successful learners!