Third Grade Reading Guarantee
Implications of Ohio’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee
The General Assembly and Governor Kasich pushed through a set of laws requiring the retention of students who fail to demonstrate an established level of mastery in reading by the third grade. This requirement is accompanied by several other mandates affecting teacher assignments and the nature of reading instruction.
This power point covers the main components of the Third Grade Guarantee as set forth in Ohio law and Ohio Department of Education (ODE) guidance, including its requirements for classroom and interventionist teacher qualifications.
This document is designed to present each section of the Third Grade Guarantee as it pertains to retention of students. Guiding questions are presented to help initiate discussions as to the possible classroom effects for students, teachers and families.
This graphics presents teacher qualification options, as set forth in Ohio law and ODE guidance and based upon the implementation years of the Third Grade Guarantee.
Take Action Now!
Third Grade Reading Guarantee Qualficiations Need Additional Changes — Urge your legislators to make changes to the qualifications in Senate Bill 21.
Third Grade Reading Guarantee Update
Senate Passes Bill to Add Needed Flexibility to Third Grade Reading Guarantee Teacher Qualifications
On Wednesday, February 27, 2013, the Ohio Senate voted 30-1 to pass Senate Bill 21, which deals with the qualifications required for teachers of students on a reading improvement plan under the Third Grade Reading Guarantee. The bill makes needed changes to current law, which OEA views as inflexible and not set up to help schools and teachers meet the needs of struggling readers. OEA has been working to make improvements to the law and testified before the Senate Education Committee on the need to make improvements to Senate Bill 21. Additionally, since Friday of last week, OEA members have sent over 1,000 messages to legislators calling for additional flexibility in the law. This work was effective in producing a much improved bill that passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support.
