Third grade reading in Massachusetts. Taking a closer look at race/ethnicity (click to enlarge chart) and income (click to enlarge chart). Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Take a closer look at third grade reading proficiency in Massachusetts, and one thing is clear, as the charts on race and ethnicity and income shown here demonstrate. We must address troubling achievement gaps and at the same time help support children across all racial/ethnic and income groups become strong readers by the end of third grade.
To give every child the strong start they deserve, we must recognize that the path to reading success begins at birth. So do research-based strategies to support children’s early language and literacy development. An Act Relative to Third Grade Reading Proficiency, which is now making its way through the Massachusetts Legislature, offers one important way to address the problem. It establishes an Early Literacy Expert Panel that would make recommendations to the state’s education agencies, focused largely on five research-based strategies: curriculum, instruction, professional development and training, assessment, and family partnership.
The charts included in this post are on our Maps & Charts page, which also contains additional charts on reading and other issues.
Eye on Early Education focuses on the twin goals of ensuring that Massachusetts children have access to high-quality early education and become proficient readers by the end of third grade.
