The Colorado READ Act

The Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act (READ Act) focuses on early literacy development for all students with special attention for students at-risk for not achieving third grade reading proficiency.

The Colorado READ Act passed in 2012 with the purpose of ensuring every student in Colorado reaches reading proficiency by the end of 3rd grade.  The READ act promotes early identification of reading difficulties and effective intervention to quickly close reading gaps and ensure all Colorado students can demonstrate a level of competency in reading skills necessary to achieve success in school.

Terms you may hear when school staff talk about reading instruction:

DIBELS:  An interim assessment given to all children in grades K-5, but most importantly in grades K-3, to determine whether children are making sufficient progress to grade level proficiency.

SRD:  When students are identified as significantly reading below grade level, they have a "significant reading deficiency" or SRD. READ Plan:  An intervention plan collaboratively developed with the student's parents to bring the child up to grade level reading proficiency.  Within the plan, there are parent support strategies that encourage families to support reading activities at home, and it involves ongoing school-to-home communication.

See the Colorado READ Act website for more information.