August brings lots of new experiences for Arizona students – a new school year, new teachers, new classrooms. For our state’s nearly 83,972 third graders, the 2013-14 school year includes a new statute, Move On When Reading, that requires third-grade students who score “Falls Far Below” on the AIMS reading test to be held back and have additional time to master their reading skills before they advance to fourth grade.

From birth through third grade, children must be learning to read. The first step begins when children listen to others talk to them, then learn to articulate words themselves and finally children learn to read written text. In fourth grade, reading becomes the critical means to success in other subjects such as science and math. A simple way to think about it is: Up to third grade, children learn to read; after third grade, they read to learn.

Data shows that students who aren’t able to read proficiently by the end of third grade struggle in later grades and are four times more likely to drop out. The outcomes are markedly worse for children living in poverty: these students are almost nine times more likely to drop out from high school if they don’t master reading by third grade.

Move On When Reading was enacted to ensure all Arizona students acquire that critical reading foundation.

What’s the Impact to Children in Arizona?

• If we use the most recent 2012 third grade AIMS data as an indicator of what might occur in the 2013-2014 school year, it shows that more than 3,300 students may be held back for failing the AIMS reading test.
• What’s more, more than 17,500 (21%) of third grade students in Arizona are falling into the Approaches range which means to are not reading at grade level. These students may proceed to the 4th grade, but will likely still struggle with reading.

What Can You Do?

• If you’re a parent of a young child, be sure to ask your teacher or principal about the law and understand its impact on your child, their class and their school.
• All of us have a stake in the success of Arizona’s students. You can help by talking and reading to your child and by volunteering to read to children in schools, churches, after school programs, etc. Our Women’s Leadership Council has made this simple for you. Learn about the Million Minutes Volunteer Reading Challenge and how you can get involved. Sign up and create a volunteer reading team today.

Janet Garcia is Vice President for Community Impact with a focus on early childhood education and has worked with children, youth and families in Arizona for more than 30 years. She has robust experience and expertise and has assisted individuals and families facing poverty and abuse overcome these obstacles and become successful and productive community members.