North Carolina Read to Achieve A Guide for Parents to House Bill 950

1. North Carolina Read to AchieveA Guide for Parents to House Bill 950

2. What Is Read to Achieve? • Read to Achieve is part of the Excellent Public Schools Act • It becomes effective 2013-2014 school year • The law can be accessed through http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H950v7.pdf

3. What is the Goal of Read to Achieve? “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 text when needed.” (Excellent Public Schools Act, NC HB 950/S.L. 2012)

4. 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

5. Comprehensive Reading Plan • Teachers will receive professional development on reading instructional practices and strategies • Teachers will be supported as they work with student data to identify which reading instructional strategies are needed • Teachers will implement those instructional practices and strategies during reading instruction for students

6. Kindergarten Entry Assessment Process • A Kindergarten entry assessment process will begin with the 2014-2015 school year • The assessment will create a child profile that addresses the five domains of school readiness • Language and Literacy • Cognition and General Knowledge • Approaches Toward Learning • Physical Well-Being and Motor Development • Social/Emotional Development

7. Facilitating Early Grade Reading Proficiency • K-3 students will be assessed using the mCLASS Reading 3D assessment system • The data helps teachers plan appropriate reading instruction for each student • All parents/guardians will receive a Home Connect letter three times a year showing their child’s progress along with activities that can be used at home to support reading

8. End of Social Promotion • Third graders will complete the EOG for reading • If they are proficient, they are promoted to 4th grade • If they are not, they may qualify for a good cause exemption and be promoted to 4th grade • The legislation identifies five good cause exemptions

9. Good Cause Exemptions • Limited English Proficient students with fewer than 2 years of instruction in ESL • Students with disabilities with IEPs that specify alternative assessments (*this does not apply to any student in a general education classroom) • Students who demonstrate reading proficiency appropriate for 3rd grade on an alternative assessment (Read to Achieve Test) • Students who demonstrate reading proficiency through a student reading portfolio • Students who have received reading intervention and previously been retained more than once in prior K, 1st, or 2nd

10. End of Social Promotion • If students do not qualify for a good cause exemption then they may take a retest of the EOG or the Read to Achieve test • If they are proficient on one of these assessments they are promoted to 4th grade

11. Plan for Successful Reading Development of Retained Students • Establish summer reading camps • Provide reading workshops for parents and guardians to help with the plan for reading at home for retained students • Offer supplemental tutoring outside of the school day to students that have been retained more than once

12. Summer Reading Camp • If students do not qualify for a “good cause exemption” they are then enrolled in a Summer Reading Camp • Summer Reading Camp is the parent’s decision. If the choice is not to enroll, the student is retained to a 3rd grade classroom

13. Summer Reading Camp • Summer Reading Camp includes 72 hours of intensive, research based reading instruction • Dates and times for Summer Reading Camp will be determined by Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System

14. Summer Reading Camp Students attending Summer Reading Camp will have two opportunities to be promoted to the fourth grade: • The student scores proficient on the alternate reading assessment (Read to Achieve Test) • The student’s reading portfolio demonstrates reading proficiency

15. After Summer Reading Camp Students who are not promoted after Summer Reading Camp: • Student is placed into a fourth grade classroom and flagged as “retained” where they will receive intensive reading instruction • If student has already been retained once, the district/school shall provide a plan for reading at home, which will include a contract with the parent/guardian

16. Parent/Guardian Notification of the Retention Process • Teachers will meet with parent/guardian as needed to discuss student’s reading progress • Written notification of retention will be sent to the parent/guardian of a student not demonstrating reading proficiency by the end of third grade. • Parent/Guardian will be notified in writing of the reason the student is not eligible for a good cause exemption

17. Parent/Guardian Notification of the Retention Process • Parent/Guardian of a student who is retained shall receive at least monthly written reports on the student progress toward reading proficiency • Teachers and Principals shall provide opportunities to discuss the notifications with parents/guardians

18. Accountability Measures Process • School System will establish and maintain a website for reporting and parent information • Schools will provide descriptions of all reading interventions provided to retained students • Teachers will document and maintain lesson plans outlining reading interventions used in the classroom with retained students

19. What Can Parents Do to Help? • Find some time for reading every day. Reading before bedtime is great, but any time is a good time for reading • Be sure to read books that your child enjoys • Even 15 minutes a day will make a big difference in your child’s achievement and enjoyment of reading • The more you read together, the more fun ways you will find to enjoy reading

20. For More Information • Visit the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County home page’s link to Read to Achieve at http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/Page/71144 • Contact your school’s principal and/or child’s teacher