You’ve already read in the Ohio Education Gadfly what we think about the third-grade reading scores across Ohio. Around the state, journalists are trying to parse what’s worked and what hasn’t and what districts will do with the approximately 12 percent of third graders who are still at risk of being held back. Here’s a sampling of what the papers are saying:
- In Canton, even before the spring test results were out, the summer reading boot camp was in full swing and students were showing progress ahead of an additional chance to pass the state reading test this summer.
- In Cincinnati, discussion of third-grade reading centered on alternative assessments and a fair number of exemptions as being instrumental in keeping to a minimum the number of children held back—that is, exemptions from either the test or the consequences.
- In Toledo, no exemptions have yet been given to any third graders. The district wants to provide summer supports, and another chance to pass the test, to all students who need extra reading assistance, regardless of whether they may be exempted later.
- And in Columbus, we’ve heard about bus drivers offering their vehicles as mobile reading rooms on the drive home and about the library system getting out of its comfort zone to be part of a community-wide effort in order to help students.
- “All hands on deck!” is the cry in Columbus. In Akron, however, there are at least two well-meaning fellows who should probably stand down from their proposed effort to help third graders improve their reading test scores, as it sounds likely to fail before it even gets off the ground.
