Louisiana parents, buckle up—third grade just got real! 📚😳 Act 422 (HB12), signed by Governor Edwards, officially became law on August 1, 2023, but the Louisiana Department of Education had time to prepare for a full rollout during the 2024-2025 school year. Sponsored by Representative Richard Nelson of Mandeville, this new rule means third graders must pass the DIBELS 8th Edition assessment to move on to fourth grade. No pass? No promotion. We know this is a big deal (and a big stressor) for families, so now’s the time to start preparing.
Louisiana Department of Education
Third Grade Literacy Proficiency Handout
DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) is an early reading assessment that measures fluency, accuracy, and comprehension. The goal? To ensure students are on track with their literacy skills before advancing to more challenging coursework.
This move is part of Louisiana’s push to improve literacy rates and set students up for long-term academic success. While some parents may feel nervous about the higher stakes, the idea is to provide struggling students with the extra support they need to thrive.
One big question: How will this new law impact students with IEPs (Individualized Education Programs)? For clarity, we reached out to Konstance Causey, Families Helping Families. We learned there any many exceptions for children with IEPs, limited English proficiencies, students who have received intensive remediation in reading for 2 years but still demonstrate a deficiency, or were previously retained in kindergarten. For additional information please see pages 3-4 of House Bill No. 12.
In the meantime, now is the time to get involved! The Ouachita Parish Public Library, Lincoln Parish Library, and Union Parish Library offer fantastic ways to make reading fun—storytimes, reading challenges, and incentives that keep kids engaged. Adding a little excitement to reading can help kids feel motivated and confident! Another free resource is Khan Academy Kids App which is a nonprofit educational resource that kids love!
And don’t worry, we’ve got your back! We found the official DIBELS website, where parents can download testing resources for free to see exactly what children need to know to pass. A little at-home prep can go a long way in setting your child up for success. (If you download the material you must follow their specific guidelines).
No one wants to see kids held back, so let’s use every tool available to support literacy. With the right resources and encouragement, we can help Louisiana students move forward and thrive!
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