This is the RTA information as of July 2016. This information is subject to change as we await approval of the NC state budget.
North Carolina General Assembly’s Read to Achieve program is part of the Excellent Public Schools Act that became law in July 2012.
The goal of the Read to Achieve program is to ensure that every student reads at grade level by the end of third grade. This program is frequently updated with more changes pending.
How will Read to Achieve affect my child?The law outlines that if a third grade student is not reading at grade level by the end of third grade, they will have to either repeat the third grade, be sent to 4th grade with a Reading Retention label, as well as be invited to attend a free, district-sponsored reading camp during track outs.
What steps are being taken to get your 3rd grader reading at grade level?Throughout the year, your child’s teacher will continue to teach reading. We will share information about your child’s progress in reading through report cards, interims, conferences, emails, and in the Home Connect letters – important reports that provide information specific to your child’s reading skills. The Home Connect letter gives suggestions about activities that you can do at home to help. Read your child’s Home Connect letter carefully and talk with your child’s teacher about his or her progress.
What if my 3rd grader is struggling to read?When your child has difficulties with his or her reading, additional help will be provided. You are encouraged to attend parent conferences with your child’s teacher to work together to help your child read at grade level by the end of the year. Your child’s teacher can provide strategies that you can use at home to help your child read better.
How will we determine that your child is reading at grade level?Students will take the NC end-of-grade (EOG) reading test at the end of 3rd grade. If they pass the EOG reading test, they are eligible to be promoted to the 4th grade. If they do not pass the EOG reading test, there are other factors called good cause exemptions that will allow your child to be promoted to 4th grade. Students need to meet at least one of the following good cause exemptions:
Traditional Calendar Student: Students will be invited to attend a free, district-sponsored reading camp for six weeks during the summer break. Students who decline to attend reading camp will be retained in 3rd grade.
Year-round Calendar Students (multi-track, single track, and modified): Student’s reading levels will be evaluated throughout the year. If the data shows that your child is not reading at grade level and your child does not qualify for a good cause exemption, they will be invited to attend a free, district-sponsored reading camp during track out periods.
Will my child have to take the 3 passages per week for each of the 12 standards? The Read to Achieve law gives the option of using a student portfolio to promote a child to 4th grade. All students without a Good Cause exemption complete a full portfolio. A student’s reading portfolio contains passages that demonstrate proficiency of the standards. If your child qualifies for a good cause exemption based on criteria above, they do not need a full portfolio, but we are required to still expose all students to the objectives and complete common assessments from the portfolio from the state. Teachers may choose to use the reading passages with students that have a good cause exemption for teaching purposes.
North Carolina General Assembly’s Read to Achieve program is part of the Excellent Public Schools Act that became law in July 2012.
The goal of the Read to Achieve program is to ensure that every student reads at grade level by the end of third grade. This program is frequently updated with more changes pending.
How will Read to Achieve affect my child?The law outlines that if a third grade student is not reading at grade level by the end of third grade, they will have to either repeat the third grade, be sent to 4th grade with a Reading Retention label, as well as be invited to attend a free, district-sponsored reading camp during track outs.
What steps are being taken to get your 3rd grader reading at grade level?Throughout the year, your child’s teacher will continue to teach reading. We will share information about your child’s progress in reading through report cards, interims, conferences, emails, and in the Home Connect letters – important reports that provide information specific to your child’s reading skills. The Home Connect letter gives suggestions about activities that you can do at home to help. Read your child’s Home Connect letter carefully and talk with your child’s teacher about his or her progress.
What if my 3rd grader is struggling to read?When your child has difficulties with his or her reading, additional help will be provided. You are encouraged to attend parent conferences with your child’s teacher to work together to help your child read at grade level by the end of the year. Your child’s teacher can provide strategies that you can use at home to help your child read better.
How will we determine that your child is reading at grade level?Students will take the NC end-of-grade (EOG) reading test at the end of 3rd grade. If they pass the EOG reading test, they are eligible to be promoted to the 4th grade. If they do not pass the EOG reading test, there are other factors called good cause exemptions that will allow your child to be promoted to 4th grade. Students need to meet at least one of the following good cause exemptions:
- is a Limited English Proficient student with less than two years of instruction in ESL
- is assessed on NCExtend 2
- received reading intervention and previously been retained more than once in kindergarten, first, second, or third grades
- received a score of 438 or higher on the 3rd grade beginning-of-grade assessment
- received a level 3 or higher on any of the 3rd grade ELA Case 21 assessments, quarters 1-3
- earned a level P or above on the TRC portion of mCLASS benchmark assessment
- has a completed portfolio that includes a combined score of 70% or higher on 3 passages for each standard
Traditional Calendar Student: Students will be invited to attend a free, district-sponsored reading camp for six weeks during the summer break. Students who decline to attend reading camp will be retained in 3rd grade.
Year-round Calendar Students (multi-track, single track, and modified): Student’s reading levels will be evaluated throughout the year. If the data shows that your child is not reading at grade level and your child does not qualify for a good cause exemption, they will be invited to attend a free, district-sponsored reading camp during track out periods.
Will my child have to take the 3 passages per week for each of the 12 standards? The Read to Achieve law gives the option of using a student portfolio to promote a child to 4th grade. All students without a Good Cause exemption complete a full portfolio. A student’s reading portfolio contains passages that demonstrate proficiency of the standards. If your child qualifies for a good cause exemption based on criteria above, they do not need a full portfolio, but we are required to still expose all students to the objectives and complete common assessments from the portfolio from the state. Teachers may choose to use the reading passages with students that have a good cause exemption for teaching purposes.