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By Ted Beasley

The Louisiana Department of Education released its Fall 2022 Reading Report today that shows how public school students in grades K-3 scored on a literacy screener given during the first 30 days of the current school year. Louisiana’s overall score improved and students in grades 1-3 grew for the second consecutive year, while kindergarten scores saw a decline. This year’s third graders earned their highest score since 2018.

“It’s good to see the continued reading progress for our students,” said Dr. Cade Brumley, Louisiana’s Superintendent of Education. “Ensuring children can read must remain a fundamental priority in every school across our state”

The full Fall 2022 Reading Report is now available online. Statewide results can be viewed below.

Students Scoring “On or Above Benchmark”

 

• Grade 3: 53.2% in 2021 | 54.5% in 2022 | +1.3%
• Grade 2: 52.5% in 2021 | 54.4% in 2022 | +1.9%
• Grade 1: 49.6% in 2021 | 50.2% in 2022 | +0.6%
• K: 41.5% in 2021 | 39.2% in 2022 | -2.3%
• Overall: 49.2% in 2021 | 49.6% in 2022 | +0.4%

The Fall 2022 Reading Report includes state, school system, and school data for public school students in grades K-3. School systems can choose among four research-based screening assessments to administer. Students who take a screener earn either “On or Above Benchmark” or “Below Benchmark.” In August, Louisiana adopted the state’s first K-2 accountability plan. This plan will include a uniform literacy screener for students in these early grades.

“Louisiana’s comprehensive literacy plan is building momentum across the state, and we are beginning to see the impact of this foundational shift in how we teach children to read,” said Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jenna Chiasson. “Our youngest learners were the most impacted by the disruptions of the past few years. We have the support in place to keep our students in grades 1-3 on the right track and to accelerate the progress for our new kindergarten children.”

While scores for students in grades 1-3 increased for the second consecutive year, scores declined for students entering kindergarten. These literacy screeners are given to students during the first 30 days of the school year and capture a snapshot of a child’s reading ability as they enter a new grade.

This is the latest data to show the continued progress of Louisiana students following unprecedented classroom disruptions caused by hurricanes and the pandemic. Earlier this month, Louisiana’s statewide performance score returned to its pre-pandemic level. In October, the Nation’s Report Card showed that Louisiana students avoided some of the most dramatic learning loss seen across the nation. In August, the Department released 2021-22 LEAP scores that showed Mastery rates improved in ELA and math for students in grades 3-8. 

Locally, the City of Bogalusa School District’s kindergartners that took the Dibels 8 screener were at 17 percent on/above level percentage, while first graders were at 64, second graders were at 50 and third graders had an on/above level percentage of 48

In the Acadience Reading, the City of Bogalusa School District’s kindergarten students that took that screener had a 45 on/above level percentage. First graders were at 73, while second graders posted a 67 and third graders recorded an 89 on/above level percentage.

Northshore Charter School kindergartners that took the Dibels 8 screener were at 17 percent on/above level percentage. First graders had a 64 on/above level percentage, while second graders were at 50 and third graders had a 48.

For Washington Parish, kindergarteners that took the Acadience Reading were at 61 percent on/above level percentage. First graders had a 56 on/above level percentage, while second graders were at 38 and third graders had a 29.

Breaking down the numbers by school with all the numbers being on/above percentage, Byrd Avenue Elementary was at 45 for kindergartners and 73 for first graders for Acadience Reading.

Central Elementary took Acadiance Reading and was at 67 for second graders and 92 for third graders.

Enon was at 67 for kindergarteners in Acadience Reading with 71 for first graders, 53 for second graders and 46 for third.

Franklinton Primary kindergarteners had a 55 in Acadience Reading, 65 for first graders, 40 for second graders and 25 for third graders.

Mt. Hermon School in Acadience Reading had a 41 for kindergarteners, 48 for first graders, 33 for second graders and 27 on/above percentage for third graders.

Thomas Elementary School also had the Acadience Reading screener and kindergarteners were at 71, while first graders had a 41, second graders were at 35 and fourth graders were at 24.

Wesley Ray kindergartners with the Acadience Reading screener had a 61 percent on/above level percentage, while first graders were at 51, second graders had a 31 and third graders were at 37.

About the annual Louisiana Fall Reading Report:

Louisiana law and Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) policy require that school systems administer a literacy screener not later than thirty days after the beginning of each school year to all students in kindergarten through grade 3. Annual screening is vital for ensuring that all students are on the right track to become proficient readers by the end of third grade. School systems can choose among four research-based screening assessments. The screening assessments measure a particular skill or skills that are typically predictive of later reading success. The skills build upon each other from one grade level to the next and are appropriately matched to children’s ages and developmental stages.