Louisiana K-3 public school students showed improvement in reading scores on the state’s first universal literacy screener. The results show significant gains, particularly in K-1st grade. Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jenna Chaisson…
“This is our first year of implementing a statewide literacy screener. Students in kindergarten through third grade were administered this screener at the beginning of the school year, in the middled of the school year, and then again end of the school year.”
The screener assesses reading abilities to identify areas needing improvement and progress with literacy screeners throughout the school year.
“…meaning that for students to remain performing at that same level they actually have to increase their performance overtime to remain at that same achievement level.”
The overall improvement reflects the effectiveness of the state’s literacy plan, which includes phonics instruction and teacher training. Chaisson emphasized the need for continued efforts to ensure all students reach grade-level reading proficiency in the state.
“We have a long road ahead. We have a lot of students who still aren’t able to read on grade level. We know that what we are currently doing is working and we need to keep up that work.”
The areas with decline in scores are attributed to pandemic-related disruptions, including closures of early care centers and potential impacts from mask-wearing on speech development.
