HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala. (WTVY) -ACAP Reading Sufficiency scores are in and one Lawmaker and a former reading coordinator are talking about the good results in Houston County Schools and surrounding counties.
In recent years, schools in Alabama have taken a special interest in 3rd grade reading scores.
“In 2019, the legislature passed the Alabama Literacy Act, wanting to make sure 3rd students were reading at or above their grade level. Far too long, we had students not sufficiently proficient in reading being promoted to the next grade,“ Sen. Donnie Chesteen said. Sen. Chesteen serves as chair of the Education Policy Committee.
After an increase in testing standards, Houston County schools are making significant strides with a 96 percent score, ranking 11th in the state and number one among county schools for the number of students reading on or above grade level.
“It makes me feel very excited and very proud, but the mission does not change. We believe in pouring into our teachers and building that capacity to make sure our students have the best opportunity to become not just sufficient readers but become lifelong readers,” former Reading Coordinator for Houston County Schools, Reygan Woodall, said.
Woodall credits following the plan laid out by the Literacy Act, which starts with early screenings and intervention for students and teacher development, with training from reading coaches.
Houston County is not the only one seeing the hard work pay off, with Geneva city at a 95%, Dale County at 93%, and Coffee County schools at 92%. The state average for the 2024-2025 school year is 88.6%.
“I love it, and on a personal level, some of those are schools in the district I represent, and they are doing really well. It happens at the top, and then on the implementation part, with teachers buying into what we are trying to do. I think on all parts of that it has been a win for our systems, but most of all, a win for our students,” Sen. Chesteen said.
Houston County Superintendent Brandy White added that although happy with the results, the school district is eyeing reading proficiency results next.
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