FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
JIM HORNE
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
LINDA J. EADS, ED.D.
CHARLES PATRICK GARCÍA
JULIA L. JOHNSON
WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, PH.D.
LINDA K. TAYLOR
MEMORANDUM
TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
Jim Horne, Commissioner
DATE:
March 25, 2004
SUBJECT:
Resources for Struggling Third Grade Students
Congratulations in advance for a job well done on the 2004 administration of the Florida Comprehensive
Assessment Test (FCAT). Florida continues to lead the nation in raising student achievement!
We are in our second year of implementing the requirements for promotion from the third grade. For third
who score at 51
st
percentile or higher on the FCAT-NRT
students who demonstrate proficiency in Sunshine State Standards through a student portfolio
students who still demonstrate a deficiency in reading after two or more years of intensive
remediation and were previously retained for a total of two years
students with disabilities who participate in FCAT, still demonstrate a deficiency in reading after
JIM HORNE
Commissioner
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
District School Superintendents
March 25, 2004
Page 2
To make the best decisions for our third graders, it is imperative that parents and teachers have accurate
information regarding “reading to learn,” “learning to read,” and the good cause exemptions. To assist
you, the Department of Education is mailing the
Read to Learn
brochure and
FCAT Explorer
flyer
directly to the elementary schools in your district in sufficient quantities for distribution to all third grade
parents. The resources are being provided in Spanish and English versions based on the numbers
submitted to the Department of Education by your schools.
•
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Read to Learn: Critical Information for Third Grade Parents/Read to Learn: Información
Crítica para Los Padres de Estudiantes del Tercer Grado
. This booklet is designed to help
parents of third-grade students understand legislative provisions regarding student progression.
•
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FCAT Explorer: Galactic Library/Explorador del FCAT Biblioteca Galáctica
. This flyer is
designed to alert parents to the reading practice available online to improve their child’s reading
skills.
To further assist your school, Chancellor Jim Warford will be sending an email message to all third grade
teachers, and we will be scheduling conference calls in the next few weeks to discuss the student
portfolios and use of the alternative assessment (SAT-9).
Thank you for your assistance in having the appropriate brochures and flyers distributed to all third grade
parents. If you have questions regarding this information, please contact Mary Laura Openshaw at (850)
245-0503 or via e-mail at
marylaura.openshaw@fldoe.org, or Shan Goff at (850) 245-0509 or via e-mail
at shan.goff@fldoe.org. For additional content information, please visit www.justreadflorida.com. For
additional copies of the brochures, please contact the Clearinghouse Information Center at (850) 245-
0477 or by email at cicbiscs@fldoe.org.
cc:
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Assistant Superintendents for Curriculum and Instruction
Directors of Elementary Education
Directors of Student Services
Title I Coordinators
Directors of Exceptional Student Education
District ESOL Coordinators
