3rd Grade Reading Guarantee

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We wanted to provide some information about the Third Grade Reading Guarantee, sometimes called 3GRG. 3GRG refers to Ohio State Law that mandates the reading score on tests 3rd graders must get to move up to 4th grade. Your student has multiple opportunities to get a passing score on either the i-Ready Assessment or Ohio's State Tests in English Language Arts (OST ELA). Some students receive exceptions to the test scores based on certain criteria. Your student's teacher has information if any exceptions apply to them. There are multiple opportunities to pass the test and ways students can meet the requirement to move on to the 4th grade.

State law requires the State Board of Education to annually increase the promotion score on Ohio’s State Test for grade 3 English language arts until it reaches proficient for the 2024-2025 school year. Accordingly, the State Board voted to raise the promotion score for grade 3 English language arts to 690 for the 2023-2024 school year. Any student who scores 690 or higher on the English language arts scaled score will be eligible for promotion to fourth grade at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.

In addition, the Ohio Department of Education has set the reading subscore alternative assessment score for Ohio’s State Test for grade 3 English language arts at 48 for the 2023-2024 school year. Any student who scores 48 or higher on the reading subscore will be eligible for promotion to fourth grade at the end of the 2023-2024 school year, even if the student scores below 690 on Ohio’s State Test for grade 3 English language arts.

A student could also receive a passing score on iReady as well. They would need to score 515 on reading to pass.

Passing Score Summary. Need ONE of these scores to pass:

• 690 OST ELA overall score
• 48 OST ELA reading subscore
• 515 iReady reading score

Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, a student’s parent or guardian, in consultation with the student’s reading teacher and principal, may request that a student be promoted to fourth grade regardless of the student’s score on Ohio’s State Test for grade 3 English language arts.

Students promoted to fourth grade through this exemption must continue to receive intensive reading instruction until the student is able to read at grade level.

During the school year your student will take the iReady test 3 times (Fall, Winter & Spring) and the OST ELA test 2 times (Fall & Spring). If your student does not receive a passing score, they can attend the CCS Summer Experience and take both tests again in the summer.

The Ohio Department of Education has many of their 3GRG family resources translated into other languages. You can access all of them here: https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Learning-in-Ohio/Literacy/Third-Grade-Reading-Guarantee/Translated-Third-Grade-Reading-Guarantee-Documents

The State of Ohio has a lot of information for families about the OST ELA. Please click the link below for family resources.

Your student can take a practice test at home for the OST ELA if that would help them prepare for it. OST ELA tests are always administered in the school and any tests done at home are just for practice.

https://oh-ost.portal.cambiumast.com/families.html

In addition to the OST ELA test, your student's teacher also will give your student a test through i-Ready. Your student can receive a passing score on either the i-Ready or OST ELA assessment.

The i-Ready Family Center has lots of information to help families understand the i-Ready assessment and how you can use i-Ready at home.

https://i-readycentral.com/familycenter/

Did you know that 3GRG is for students K-2nd grade as well? Starting in Kindergarten and continuing through 3rd grade, our teachers are evaluating the reading skills of each student and determining if they need extra reading support. A student who needs reading help with be placed on a Reading Improvement and Monitoring Plan (RIMP). Please click below for more information about how 3GRG is used in K-3rd Grade.

If you have more questions, feel free to reach out to your student's teacher. Our staff care about your child and are happy to answer any questions you have!

You can also read more at the Ohio Department of Education Website.