Under the new system, grades one through three are measured against a goal
of reading by the end of third grade; grades four through six on proficient or advanced performance on the English and math portions of a state test indicating middle school readiness; seven, eight, and nine on high school readiness with passing all ninth - grade; grades 10, 11, and 12 focus on the goal of high school graduation.
It shows that chronically absent students are less likely to
read by the end of the third grade than demographically similar peers, and shows that chronic absence is concentrated among economically disadvantaged schools and a sub-set of schools.
We know that many students continue to struggle to
read by the end of the third grade, and show ever - weaker comprehension as they move through elementary school and beyond.
Teaching students to
read by the end of third grade is the single most important task assigned to elementary schools.»
OR2020 focuses on one of the most important predictors of school success and high school graduation: grade - level
reading by the end of third grade.