Opting Out of Third Grade Reading FSA Will Increase Chances for Third Grade Retention
We Recommend Not Opting Out of The Third Grade Reading FSA if Third Grade Retention is a Risk
The challenge in Florida is that third grade retention policies require a student to score a Level 2 on the Florida Standards Assessment for Third Grade Reading.
While Florida has created alternative Good Cause Exemptions for Promotion, these are all much harder than getting a Level 2 on the Third Grade Reading FSA. The good cause exemptions include:
For those who are not English Language Learners, have not been exempted from taking the FSA (i.e. the lowest 1% of the population) and have not been retained and have an IEP (Individual Education Plan) or have been retained twice before third grade, the two remaining options to avoid third grade retention if a student has failed the third grade reading FSA are to:
- Pass an alternative assessment #3
- Pass a student portfolio #4
The alternative assessment is harder to pass than getting a Level 2 on the third grade reading FSA and the portfolio is even harder — we know of one excellent school where none of the 20 students taking the portfolio passed on the basis of successfully completing the student portfolio.
If your child is at risk for third grade retention, we strongly recommend against opting out of the Third Grade Reading FSA.
We realize Third Grade Retention and Opting Out are two separate issues, but in this cases they intersect. Any questions, call us at 3D Learner at 561-361-7495.
Our approach is to focus on Success by Third Grade — and we help students all year round to make significant gains in months not years.
For more information you can visit Success by Third Grade, download our no cost book on Success by Third Grade and put your child on their Pathway to Success by Third Grade.
The post Third Grade Retention Risks Increase with Opt-Out Approach appeared first on 3d Learner.