CMS outlines strategy to raise reading scores for grades 3–5, warns gains will be difficult

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill told the Board of Education on Jan. 14 that the district must accelerate reading growth in grades 3 through 8 and that the district’s interim focus for this year is grades 3 through 5.

"Goal 2 is increase the percent of students scoring college and career ready on reading end of grade assessments in grades 3 through 8 from 31 percent in June 2023 to 50 percent in June 2029," Dr. Hill said as she introduced the report on the board’s student-outcomes governance goal focused on reading.

The report and board discussion centered on MVPA benchmark projections administered districtwide. District staff said 61,565 students in grades 3–8 were assessed at the beginning of the school year and that 32% are projected to score at the level CMS defines as "college and career ready" (level 4 or 5). For the current school year the district’s target is 37%, and staff said the MVPA projections show CMS needs 3,136 additional students to reach that target across grades 3–8.

For the interim measure, district staff reported that among 31,322 students in grades 3–5, 33% are currently projected to be a level 4 or 5 and that the…