3RD GRADE READING LAW

A Parent Guide to Public Act 306

1. What is the Law All About?

In an effort to boost reading achievement, Michigan lawmakers passed Public Act 306 in October 2016.

*To help more students be proficient by the end of 3rd grade, the law requires extra support for K-3 students who are not reading at grade level. *The law also states that a child may be retained in 3rd grade if they are one or more grade levels behind in reading at the end of 3rd grade.

2. What Do I Need To Know As A Parent?

*Your child's reading progress will be closely monitored beginning in kindergarten.

*If your child is not reading where expected, a plan to improve reading will be created. This means your child?s teacher and school will work with your child to find where your child needs support in his reading development and create a plan to support him. This plan includes: 

*Extra instruction or support in areas of need.

*Ongoing checks on reading progress.
*A read at home plan that encourages you and your child to read and write outside of the school day.
*Your child may be encouraged to participate in summer reading programs.
*The extra supports in your child?s reading improvement plan will occur in small groups during the school day. Your child will not miss regular reading instruction.
*Starting in 2019-2020 school year, in order to be promoted from 3rd to 4th grade, your child must score less than one year behind on the state reading assessment, or demonstrate a 3rd grade reading level through an alternate test or portfolio of student work.
*If you are notified your child may be retained, you have the right to meet with school officials and to request, within 30 days, an exemption if in the best interest of your child. The district superintendent will make the final decision. 

3. What Can I Do To Support My Child?

Read at home with your child daily with books they enjoy even in the summer.

Some ways to do this:

*Read out loud to your child. 

*Listen to your child read.

*Echo read (You read a line, then they repeat) .
*Read together at the same time.
*Reread or retell favorite stories.
*Talk to your child about the reading.

As you read:

*Ask your child to share what they remember.
*Ask questions about the reading.
*Talk about your favorite parts, what you've learned, or who is in the book and what they do.

*Talk about the pictures in the book how they connect to the words on the page.
*Help connect the stories to your child's life or other books you've read.

*Talk to and with your child a lot - knowing more words helps kids to understand the words they read better.

*Encourage writing - Let children write the sounds they hear, spelling is developmental and a work in progress.

*Be involved in your child's education and support the reading plan if your child has one.

Contact your building principal for further information and support for your child.

Watch this reading activity and try it at home with your child: EchoReading