Being a good reader is critical for a student to be successful in school. In 2013, the Mississippi Legislature passed the Literacy-Based Promotion Act to ensure that students exit the 3rd grade reading at or above grade level.
Due to the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, all 3rd grade students will take a test at the end of the year to determine promotion to 4th grade. If your child is reading below grade level at the end of 3rd grade, you will be informed in writing that your child will not be promoted to 4th grade.
All 3rd grade students will take a test in April to determine promotion to 4th grade. A retest will be given in May for students who fail the April assessment. A third retest opportunity will be provided during the summer. If your child does not pass the end of year assessment, you will be informed in writing that your child will not be promoted to 4th grade unless he/she qualifies for an exemption. You will receive regular reports from your child's school about his/her progress.
What is CMSD doing to prepare students for this test?
In order to ensure that classroom instruction is meeting the needs of students, the Columbus Municipal School District gives assessments three times each year. The assessments will help identify students who need intensive reading instruction and intervention. They will also provide useful information to help teachers plan instruction to meet the needs of each student. Letters will be sent home to the parents of students with noted reading deficiencies.
What can you do to help?
If you child has been identified with reading deficiencies in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and/or comprehension, utilize the Strong Readers Strong Leaders resources from MDE.
Questions?
Should you have any questions, please contact your child's school.