Third Grade Reading Guarantee

Ohio’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee is a program to identify students from kindergarten through grade 3 that are behind in reading. Schools will provide help and support to make sure students are on track for reading success by the end of third grade.

ABOUT THE THIRD GRADE READING GUARANTEE

Ohio’s Third Grade Guarantee ensures that every struggling reader gets the support he or she needs to be able to learn and achieve.

HOW IT WORKS

In kindergarten through grade three, schools will evaluate all children to determine if they are reading as well as they should be. If a child appears to be falling behind in reading, the school will immediately start a reading improvement plan.

Reading Improvement and Monitoring Plan – This plan will address each student’s unique reading problems. Schools will monitor the plan to make sure the student’s reading is improving.

Schools will work closely with parents to help create a remedy and for parents to be able to support the plan.

ADVANCING TO FOURTH GRADE

Except for those with special circumstances, students must meet a minimum score on the state reading test to move on to the fourth grade. In 2015-2016, the minimum score is 421. The minimum score for advancement for 2016-2017 is forthcoming.  This score must be attained either in the Fall or Spring administration of the state reading test.

If the student remains in the third grade, the school must provide a high-performing reading teacher and 90 minutes of reading instruction each school day.

HOW IT HELPS

Studies on Florida’s version of the Third Grade Guarantee show that students who remained in the third grade and received intensive reading instruction improved dramatically in overall school performance in the years following.

Third Grade Reading Guarantee information and Manual.

http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Early-Learning/Third-Grade-Reading-Guarantee