OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today signed a number of education bills designed to promote early learning and literacy, improve teacher evaluations, and other items.
One closely watched piece of legislation, Senate Bill 630, was signed today. SB 630 extends for three years the use of reading teams meant to evaluate student literacy levels under the Reading Sufficiency Act (RSA). It also begins the use of reading sufficiency teams earlier, in the first grade, to identify children who are struggling to read at grade-appropriate level. Previously, the use of reading teams began in the third grade.
The RSA is designed to ensure that children are able to read at grade-appropriate level before they reach the fourth grade. The RSA uses standardized tests to evaluate student reading performance. SB 630 raises the bar for student literacy, now requiring test scores of “proficient,” rather than just “limited knowledge” for student advancement to fourth grade. If a student does not score “proficient,” reading teams continued under SB 630 are able to advance students to the fourth grade under “probationary promotion” if the decision to do so is unanimous. The reading teams, officially designated as Student Reading Proficiency Teams (SRPT), would include a child’s parent or guardian, current teacher, future teacher and reading specialist. Principals and their district superintendent would then review and approve each reading team recommendation.
Fallin said that emphasizing reading skills is one of the best way to improve performance and learning beyond the third grade...
One closely watched piece of legislation, Senate Bill 630, was signed today. SB 630 extends for three years the use of reading teams meant to evaluate student literacy levels under the Reading Sufficiency Act (RSA). It also begins the use of reading sufficiency teams earlier, in the first grade, to identify children who are struggling to read at grade-appropriate level. Previously, the use of reading teams began in the third grade.
The RSA is designed to ensure that children are able to read at grade-appropriate level before they reach the fourth grade. The RSA uses standardized tests to evaluate student reading performance. SB 630 raises the bar for student literacy, now requiring test scores of “proficient,” rather than just “limited knowledge” for student advancement to fourth grade. If a student does not score “proficient,” reading teams continued under SB 630 are able to advance students to the fourth grade under “probationary promotion” if the decision to do so is unanimous. The reading teams, officially designated as Student Reading Proficiency Teams (SRPT), would include a child’s parent or guardian, current teacher, future teacher and reading specialist. Principals and their district superintendent would then review and approve each reading team recommendation.
Fallin said that emphasizing reading skills is one of the best way to improve performance and learning beyond the third grade...
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