RSA Update for 2015-2016
What is RSA
• The Reading Sufficiency Act (RSA) was enacted in 1997 as a
state initiative to ensure that all students are reading on
grade level by 3rd grade.
• The RSA mandates that we Screen, Intervene and Progress
Monitor every student in grades K-3, with the exception of
those on track for OAAP testing.
RSA Requirements
RSA = RTI
Screen, Intervene, Progress Monitor
Screen
• All students will be screened for reading difficulty with the
DIBELS Assessment.
• All students who do not meet grade level benchmarks will
receive intervention and be placed on an RSA Academic
Performance Plan (APP).
RSA Requirements (Cont’d)
Intervention
•
•
•
•
•
•
Happens at least 4 days per week
Is targeted and intensive
Focus on one skill until that skill is mastered
Change your activity, not your skill
Document your Intervention
Ask for help!
RSA Requirements (Cont’d)
•
•
•
•
Progress Monitor
After 4 interventions assess the progress
Use DIBELS, STAR or a teacher made progress monitoring tool.
The progress monitoring must match the intervention.
Ask for help if you need it!
RSA Requirements (Cont’d)
Reading Block
• 90 minutes required plus 30 minutes if you have any students on an
RSA APP.
• This time is everything reading/LA/writing/phonics/small group
literacy centers etc…
• http://ok.gov/sde/teacher-reading-sufficiency
RSA Legislative Updates
2015-2016
• Two OCCT Reading Scores:
• Composite
• Comp/Vocab Only (Reading Score)
• The Comp/vocab score will be used
to determine promotion. (72% of
OCCT)
• Unsatisfactory reading scores
determines retention/promotion
• Good Cause Exemptions are still in
use.
• Students are only exempt if they
meet End-of-Year composite score
on DIBELS (330)
• Option of Probationary Promotion
is still allowable.
2016-2017
• Two OCCT Reading Scores:
• Composite (Vocab, Comp,
• Comp/Vocab
• The Comp/vocab score will be used to
determine promotion.
• Unsatisfactory and Limited
Knowledge reading scores determines
retention/promotion
• Good Cause Exemptions are still in
use.
• Students are only exempt if they meet
40th Percentile on the STAR
Assessment.
• Option of Probationary Promotion is
still allowable through 2017-2018.
RSA Good Cause Exemptions 1-4
English Language Learners who have had less than two years of instruction in English and are
Exemption 1 identified as LEP/ELL on a screening tool approved by OSDE.
Exemption 2 Students with an Individualized Education Plan and are assessed with OAAP.
Exemption 3 Students who demonstrate an acceptable level of performance on an alternative standardized
reading test approved by State Board of Education.
Exemption 4 Students who demonstrate through a teacher-developed portfolio that they can read on grade
level. Portfolio shall include evidence of the student's mastery of the state standards in reading
equal to grade-level performance on the Oklahoma Core Curriculum Test (OCCD.
RSA Good Cause Exemptions 5-7
Exemption 5 Students with disabilities who take the OCCT and have an IEP that states they have received
intensive remediation in reading for more than two years but still demonstrate a deficiency in reading
and were previously retained one year or were in a transitional grade during pre-k, kindergarten,
first, second or third grade.
Exemption 6 Students who have received intensive remediation in reading for two more years but still
demonstrate a deficiency in reading and who already have been retained in pre-k, kindergarten, first
grade, second grade or third grade for a total of two years. Transitional grades count.
Exemption 7 Students facing exceptional emergency circumstances which prevent the student from being
assessed during the testing window. These requests for exemptions must be approved by the Office
of Accountability and Assessment.
Screening Instrument Promotion
If a 3rd grade student demonstrates proficiency on one of the approved
screening instruments the student will satisfy the requirements of the
Reading Sufficiency Act and will not be subject to retention.
To become exempt, students must have a composite score of 330 on
one of the three yearly benchmarks, (Fall, Winter or Spring).
Probationary Promotion Process
STEP 1
Teacher shall request retention exemption. Teacher may be asked to provide DIBELS, STAR,
or other testing data. (Why are you recommending promotion)
STEP 2
The Student Reading Proficiency Team (SRPD evaluates for "probationary promotion." SRPT
includes parent/ guardian, current teacher responsible for reading, future teacher responsible
for reading, AND certified reading specialist (required).
STEP 3
The principal and superintendent must approve the recommendation of the SRPT.
STEP 4
Student must be provided an Academic Progress Plan until the student meets grade
level through performance screening instrument.
How can you help?
• Inform your parents.
• Exemptions don’t catch that many students, but you
still need to be familiar with them.
• Work with your Special Ed teacher to make sure that
no one is left out.
How are we doing?
• In the 13-14 school year we had 171, or about 10%, of 3rd grade
students score unsatisfactory on the Reading OCCT.
• In the 14-15 school year we decreased to 128, or 7%, of 3rd grade
students scoring unsatisfactory on the Reading OCCT.
• For the 15-16 school year are retaining 32 of the 128 students who
scored Unsatisfactory.
• 94 promoted via an exemption, benchmark score or probationary promotion.
Where to get information
• Check the RSA page on my website
• Check the RSA page on the OSDE site
• Call or email me anytime!
• Michelleburks@mooreschools.com or 405-735-4263