Oklahoma Students Face Stricter Literacy Laws

### Stricter Literacy Laws

Hundreds of thousands of Oklahoma children are back in school for their first academic year under new literacy laws. The laws require extra help for low-scoring readers and will carry higher stakes for future reading scores.

### High Stakes for Future Scores

Future third graders will risk being held back a year for scoring below basic, which the state defines as failing to demonstrate even partial mastery of grade-level expectations. More than 21,100 Oklahoma third graders, or 44%, scored below a basic level on statewide reading tests this past spring.

| Grade Level | Number of Students Below Basic | | --- | --- | | 3rd Grade | 21,100 (44%) |

### Different Approaches to Assessing Students

State leaders enacted more rigorous reading laws this year in hopes of emulating Mississippi, which progressively rose in national academic rankings after implementing similar regulations. However, Oklahoma's approach may not be the same as Mississippi's, according to Chris Brewster, superintendent of Santa Fe South Charter Schools.

"There are certain schools where the vast majority of all of their third graders, historically speaking, haven't met that standard," Brewster said. "I don't know if that's the intent of the law, but it seems very punitive to children and not really a way to progress the work."

### Accelerating Learning

Some schools are focusing on accelerating learning by increasing class time spent on reading instruction. Santa Fe South Charter Schools, for example, has seen steady improvement since spring 2020, when 34% of its first graders performed near or above their grade level.

### Uncertainty About New Laws

Despite the efforts of some schools, there are still many questions about the new reading laws. Meg Wheeler, executive director of elementary education at Santa Fe South, said that the number of students scoring below basic is one of the only clear indicators school leaders have of how many of their students might face retention.

| Criteria for Exemption | Description | | --- | --- | | Second literacy assessment | Students who meet limited criteria for an exemption may be exempt from retention |

### Districts Prepare for High-Stakes Testing

Districts are preparing for high-stakes testing by increasing training and staffing for literacy initiatives. Edmond Public Schools, for example, is focusing on building teachers' capacity for literacy instruction and providing professional development for educators.

### Key Takeaways

- Oklahoma students face stricter literacy laws with higher stakes for future reading scores. - Different approaches to assessing students may impact the effectiveness of the new laws. - Some schools are focusing on accelerating learning by increasing class time spent on reading instruction. - There are still many questions about the new reading laws, including the criteria for exemptions and the universal screener to check students' literacy levels.