Nevada superintendent: Read by Three making impact

Nevada’s Superintendent of Education says the Read by Grade Three program is working, greatly improving reading proficiency of Nevada’s kindergarten through third grade students.

Steve Canavero said a study by RMC Research Corp., also shows broad support for the program by teachers and “indicates that the foundation is being laid to make Nevada the fastest improving state in the nation in early literacy.”

He said researchers show three quarters of teachers say the effort to engage more parents in helping struggling readers is working.

Those teachers, he said, are also supportive of the requirements of the program eliminating social promotion and ensuring struggling readers get the time and intensive support to be successful in fourth grade and beyond.

RMC’s report also cited the extensive K-3 educator training and targeted intervention for students.

“Nevada is certainly on track to ensuring that all of its K-3 students are proficient in reading by the end of third grade,” Canavero said.

He said that’s critical because national research shows children who can’t read well by the end of third grade are at a serious disadvantage for the rest of their lives. Canavero said 90 percent of those who fail to get a diploma were struggling readers in grade three.