Learning Foundations

Literacy is the foundation of a student’s educational career. From pre-K to 3rd grade, students learn to read. By 4th grade, students read to learn.

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The Problem

Reading proficiency by the end of 3rd grade can be a make-or-break benchmark in a child’s educational career.

According to the National Research Council, “academic success, as defined by high school graduation, can be predicted with reasonable accuracy by knowing someone’s reading skill at the end of third grade. A person who is not at least a modestly skilled reader by that time is unlikely to graduate from high school.”(1)

E3 Alliance analysis of STAAR scores reveals that 3rd-grade reading outcomes vary by race, gender, and household income.

We must close the opportunity gaps between our Black and Hispanic students and our White students and between students from low-income and non-low-income households.

(1) 12 National Research Council. (1998). Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children. Edited by C. Snow, S. Burns, and P. Griffin, Committee on the Prevention of Reading Difficulties in Young Children. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Data

Central Texas

Central Texas students from low-income households met 3rd grade reading standard half as much as students not from low-income households.

Percent of students that met standard on STAAR grade 3 reading, by household income, 2022, Central Texas

In 2022, only 34% of students from low-income households in Central Texas met STAAR Grade 3 Reading standards. Whereas, 70% of students not from low-income households met reading standards.

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of STAAR data at The University of Texas at Austin Education Research Center

Data

Central Texas

Disparities exist in educational outcomes by race/ethnicity. Only 38% of Central Texas Black students and 40% of Hispanic students met 3rd grade reading standard in 2022.

Percent of students that met standard on STAAR grade 3 Reading, by race/ethnicity, 2022, Central Texas

38% of black students and 40% of hispanic students met 3rd grade reading standards in Central Texas. Asian students met reading standards at 80%, whereas white students met standards at 70%.

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of STAAR reading data from the Education Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin

Our unique strengths—collaborating with our partners around the data—are fundamental to solving literacy opportunity gaps.

Greater Austin Reading Coalition

The Greater Austin Reading Coalition (GARC) unites and supports the early literacy community in Greater Austin to ensure all children are proficient and engaged readers by third grade. E3 Alliance is proud to convene this diverse network to support local literacy. GARC works to ensure all students from kindergarten to third grade, especially those most affected by inequitable systems, are reading on grade level by the end of third grade.

Learn more about the Greater Austin Reading Coalition

E3 Alliance Literacy Rubric

Our research-based Literacy Rubric improves campus systems, advances teaching methods, and improves access. The Literacy Rubric also guides our work to convene partners, identify critical literacy policies and practices, and test recommendations.

Download the Literacy Rubric (PDF 8 MB)

Is your campus or district struggling with meeting literacy requirements? E3 Alliance offers tailored coaching and professional learning services to help educators tackle big problems and transform schools for the better.

Learn About Our Services

Resources

Resource

PDF

Literacy Rubric

Literacy is a significant benchmark in a child's education. The E3 Alliance Literacy Rubric is a holistic tool for schools to improve their literacy systems. Using this rubric centers on supporting both teachers and students to improve performance.

Download the Literacy Rubric PDF (8.04 MB)

Resource

PDF

Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters: A Kids Count Special Report

"Early Warning: Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters" draws a link between reading skills and success later in life. Also addressed in this report are the connections between ongoing academic difficulties and graduation rates.

Download Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters Report PDF (11.74 MB)