STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

MOLLY M. SPEARMAN STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION

MEMORANDUM

TO: District Superintendents District Instructional Leaders School Principals District Strategic Plan Contacts

FROM: Quincie L. Moore, Ph.D. Director, Office of Early Learning and Literacy

DATE: 8, 2020

RE: 2020–21 District and School Reading Plans (due 15, 2020)

The Read to Succeed Act requires that the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE), with the approval of the State Board of Education (SBE), develop, implement, evaluate, and continuously refine a comprehensive state plan for prekindergarten through grade twelve to improve reading achievement. The South Carolina State Reading Plan has been developed to guide the support of the SCDE for districts and schools. The South Carolina State Reading Plan also provides guidance to district and school plans as they work to support the reading and writing development of their students with research-based, outcomes oriented strategies. The South Carolina State Reading Plan was approved by the SBE on 10, 2015.

The 2020–21 district and school reading plans deadline was extended this year from 30, 2020 to October 15, 2020. The submission format has also changed; all school and district plans should be submitted this year through the Formstack survey links listed below: • District Literacy Reflection Tool • Primary and Elementary School Reflection Tool • Middle and Secondary School Reflection Tool

The same format as prior year reflection tools will be used for school year 2020–21 reading plans, with the addition of two pieces: 1) Progress Update: A section has been added (Section J) asking for all schools and districts to report on their progress towards the SMART goals from the 2019–2020 school year. Some districts and schools be unable to reflect on their goal progress due to the

RUTLEDGE BUILDING · 1429 SENATE STREET · COLUMBIA, SC 29201 PHONE: 803-734-8500 · FAX 803-734-3389 · ED.SC.GOV 2020–21 District and School Reading Plans Page 2 , 2020

closures—they may instead utilize quantitative and qualitative data gathered prior to the closing of schools to determine progress toward the goal(s), or may use the most appropriate and relevant data available to determine progress toward the 2019–2020 goal. 2) Third Grade Reading Proficiency: All districts and any school serving third grade students will use the same first SMART goal addressing third grade reading proficiency. Reduce the percentage of third graders performing below grade level in the fall of 2020– 21 as determined by ______(data source or sources) from ___% to ___% in the spring of 2021. Schools without third grade students may choose another goal.

Districts and schools may choose to refine and revise a current goal and/or continue to implement a current goal for the 2020 reading plans. For more information on the State Reading Plan and other guidance for developing plans, including copies of the updated tools, please visit: https://ed.sc.gov/instruction/early-learning-and-literacy/read-to-succeed1/reading-plans-state- district-and-school/.

For questions pertaining to the completion and submission of the reading plans, please contact Marie Gibbons at 803-734-0529 or [email protected].

phone: 803-734-8500 ● fax: 803-734-3389 ● ed.sc.gov