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Board hears how new state law will affect third‑grade reading and district training plans
Summary
Chief academic officer Miss Stubbs told the board that South Carolina’s Act 114 requires third‑grade students to demonstrate reading proficiency on SC Ready or be retained unless they meet good‑cause exemptions; the district plans parent notifications, summer reading camp options and continued K–3 teacher training.
Miss Stubbs, the district’s chief academic officer, told the Chesterfield County School Board on Dec. 10 that new state legislation — referred to in her report as Act 114 — requires third‑grade students to “demonstrate reading proficiency at the end of the year as measured by SC Ready.” She said, “If a student scores does not meet, then they will be required to repeat third grade, unless there are good cause exemptions in place.”
Miss Stubbs listed examples of good‑cause exemptions the district will use, including successful completion of a summer reading camp and an acceptable score on an approved alternative assessment such as I‑Ready. She said staff will use a parent‑notification timeline developed by Beth Suggs so families are informed as data becomes available and that teachers will meet with parents individually after winter I‑Ready testing to discuss student progress.
The presentation also described a multi‑year professional development effort for early‑grade teachers. Miss Stubbs said the district is expanding Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) training to 4‑K teachers while 5‑K through third‑grade teachers have participated in a two‑year hybrid training program combining online modules and facilitated virtual sessions. She said the next training session will take place on the teacher work day after winter break.
Miss Stubbs reminded the board that EOC benchmark assessments for secondary courses were administered Nov. 20–26 and that district schools are running a range of student activities and family engagement events through the holiday season. She encouraged board members to attend a Dec. 16 banquet recognizing academic team accomplishments.
The board asked clarifying questions about parent notification and assessment timing; Miss Stubbs and district staff said further data from January testing will guide interventions and parent meetings. The district did not set policy changes at the meeting; Miss Stubbs said she will return with implementation details as data and schedules are finalized.
