Strong Readers Act

Sankofa Middle School                                                                          Policy 4112

Strong Readers Act

The SMS Board recognizes that being able to read is critical if students are to be successful in

their educational endeavors. Therefore, reading at the earliest possible level will enhance the

students’ ability to develop proficient reading skills. To this end, SMS Administration will

employ the scientifically-based Deborah Brown Teaching Methodology to ensure for success

with the Oklahoma Department of Education Standards for reading at the elementary school

level. SMS students will receive quality education that is primarily focused on reading, writing,

penmanship and mathematics beginning at

third (3 rd ) grade levels.

All teachers will be trained to incorporate, phonological awareness, decoding, fluency,

vocabulary building and comprehension during reading instruction.

Screening of Students: AMPLIFY and AMIRA SCREENERS

Reading deficiencies such as dyslexia will be determined by early screening for students in

kindergarten, first, second and third grade. The screenings will occur at the beginning, middle

and end of each school year for phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary and

comprehension. The screening instrument shall be approved by the Oklahoma State

Department of Education (OSDE).

Exemption to the Screening

Students who have documented evidence that meet at least one of the following criteria

identified below shall be exempt from the screening. These include:

 the student participates in the Oklahoma Alternate Assessment Program (OAAP),

 the student’s primary expressive or receptive communication is sign-language,

 the students primary form of written or read text is Braille,

 The students primary expressive or receptive language is not English (English Learner),

If students are granted an exemption from the screening requirement, SMS shall provide

ongoing evidence of student progression toward English Language acquisition.

Students Not Found to be Meeting Grade level Requirements

Students not found to be meeting grade level requirements shall be provided a program of

reading instruction designed to enable them to acquire desired grade level reading skills. This

program of reading instruction shall be scientifically research based and aligned with subject

mattered standards adopted by OSDE. The SMS program of reading instruction shall include:

 sufficient additional instruction time for the acquisition of phonological awareness,

decoding, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension,

 if funding is available, tutorial instruction after regular school hours, Saturdays/Summer

school,

 assessments identified for diagnostic purposes and periodic monitoring,

 high-quality instructional materials grounded in scientifically based research, and

 providing every family of students in pre-kindergarten through third grade access to free

online evidence-based literacy instruction resources to support literacy development at

home.

Students Who Exhibit a Reading Deficiency

Students who exhibit a deficiency in reading will receive an individual reading shall receive an

individual reading intervention plan no later than Thirty (30) days after identification of the

reading deficiency. The plan shall:

 describe the researched-based reading intervention services the student will receive to

remedy the deficiency in reading,

 provide explicit and systematic instruction in phonological awareness, decoding,

fluency, vocabulary and comprehension if applicable,

 monitor the reading progress of the student throughout the school year and make

adjustments if necessary.

 Continue the plan until the student has met grade level requirements.

Reading Proficiency Team

The Reading Proficiency Team (RPT) for each student will be responsible for developing the

Reading Intervention Plan. Each team shall be composed of:

 the parent or legal guardian of the student,

 the teacher assigned to the student who had the responsibility for reading instruction in

that academic year,

 a teacher who is responsible for reading instruction and is assigned to teach in the next

grade level of the student and

 a certified reading specialist, if one is available.

SMS will notify the parent or legal guardian of any student in kindergarten, first, second or

third grade who exhibits a deficiency in reading based on the screening instrument. This

notification shall occur no later than Thirty (30) days after the identification of the reading

deficiency in reading.

SMS Strong Readers Plan

The SMS Board will adopt and implement a Strong Readers Plan. Input will be gathered from

school administrators, teachers and parents or legal guardians and a reading specialist, if

possible. The plan shall be submitted electronically to and approved by the State Board of

Education. The plan shall be updated annually. SMS will not submit electronically annual

updates to the State Board if the last plan submitted to the Board was approved.

Students Who Demonstrate Proficiency

If a student has demonstrated proficiency in reading through an appropriate grade level

screening, SMS will notify the parent or legal guardian that the student has satisfied

requirements of the Strong Readers Act.

Students Who Do Not Demonstrate Proficiency

If students have been identified as having a substantial deficiency in reading, parents or legal

guardians will be notified in writing regarding the following items.

 the student has been identified as having a substantial deficiency in reading,

 a description of current services provided to the student,

 description of proposed services and supports that will be provided to student,

 that a student who is reported to fourth grade shall receive supplemental intervention

services,

 strategies for parents to use in helping their children to succeed in reading proficiency

and

 grade level performance scores of the student.

No student will be assigned to a grade level based solely on age or other factors that constitute

social promotion.

Reporting Requirements

SMS shall annually publish on its website and report electronically to OSDE, the Office of

Educational Quality and Accountability and the Secretary of Education by September 1 of each

school year the following information on the prior school year.

 The policies and procedures adopted by the SMS Board to implement the provisions of

this section. This information shall include expenditures related to implementing the

provisions of this policy and average daily classroom time devoting to implementing this

policy,

 by grade, the number and percentage of all students in kindergarten through third

grade who did not meet grade level targets by on the screening instrument,

 by grade, the number and percentage of all students in kindergarten through third

grade who have been enrolled at SMS for fewer than two years,

 by grade, the number and percentage of students in kindergarten through third grade

who demonstrated grade-level proficiency and

 by grade, the number and percentage of students in kindergarten through third grade

who are on an individualized education program (IEP) in accordance with the Individuals

with Disabilities Act (IDEA) who demonstrated grade level proficiency based on the

screening instrument administered pursuant to this policy or an alternative assessment

prescribed by the students IEP.

 Copies of the results of the screening instruments administered shall be made a part of

the permanent record of each student.

Legal Reference: 70 O.S. 1210.520