Third Grade Reading Guarantee
Ohio’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee is a state-mandated program designed to identify students in kindergarten through third grade who are falling behind in reading. The primary goal is to ensure all students receive the targeted instruction and support they need to be reading at grade level by the end of third grade.
Key Requirements for Schools & Families
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Annual Diagnostic Screeners: Schools evaluate the reading skills of all students in grades K–3 at the beginning of each school year to determine if they are "on track."
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Parent Notification: If a student is identified as "not on track," the school must notify the family in writing to outline the specific reading deficiency and the planned intervention steps.
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Reading Improvement and Monitoring Plans (RIMPs): For any student falling behind, teachers and parents collaborate to create an individualized RIMP. This plan outlines specialized, supplemental instruction tailored to the student's unique needs.
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Pathway to Promotion: To be promoted to the fourth grade, third-grade students must demonstrate reading competency by meeting a designated benchmark on the Ohio State Test (OST) in English Language Arts, achieving an eligible score on an approved alternative diagnostic or through specific parent-requested exemptions provided by state law.
Need More Information?
You can review detailed timelines, alternative assessment thresholds, and official policy updates directly in the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Resources.
Ohio’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee is a state-mandated program designed to identify students in kindergarten through third grade who are falling behind in reading. The primary goal is to ensure all students receive the targeted instruction and support they need to be reading at grade level by the end of third grade.
Key Requirements for Schools & Families
-
Annual Diagnostic Screeners: Schools evaluate the reading skills of all students in grades K–3 at the beginning of each school year to determine if they are "on track."
-
Parent Notification: If a student is identified as "not on track," the school must notify the family in writing to outline the specific reading deficiency and the planned intervention steps.
-
Reading Improvement and Monitoring Plans (RIMPs): For any student falling behind, teachers and parents collaborate to create an individualized RIMP. This plan outlines specialized, supplemental instruction tailored to the student's unique needs.
-
Pathway to Promotion: To be promoted to the fourth grade, third-grade students must demonstrate reading competency by meeting a designated benchmark on the Ohio State Test (OST) in English Language Arts, achieving an eligible score on an approved alternative diagnostic (such as NWEA MAP Growth), or through specific parent-requested exemptions provided by state law.
Need More Information?
You can review detailed timelines, alternative assessment thresholds, and official policy updates directly in the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Resources.
