As Idaho embarks on a new multimillion dollar attempt to help at-risk readers, recent test results tell an old story.
Once again, more than four in 10 kindergarten through third-grade students showed up for fall classes reading below grade level. This translates to 34,949 students statewide.
The latest Idaho Reading Indicator scores are not a reflection on the state’s new literacy initiative, passed by the 2016 Legislature. School districts and charter schools submitted their literacy plans to the state this fall, and received their share of the $11.25 million in state funding in October — after students took the fall IRI.
Instead, the fall IRI scores provide a mile marker at the launch of the literacy initiative.
The numbers are essentially flat.