NC Dyslexia Law · Statute

G.S. 115C-83.8 — Read to Achieve

Plain English summary

When a third-grader is held back for not reading at grade level, the school must place that student with a skilled reading teacher for at least 90 minutes of daily, uninterrupted Science of Reading-based instruction (starting 2022-23), following the student's Individual Reading Plan. Parents have the final say on reading camp attendance, and students who can't attend camp must get another chance to prove reading proficiency through an alternative assessment or portfolio before retention is finalized. Students retained twice must be offered tutoring outside the school day that is grounded in the Science of Reading.

Key requirements

  • Parents/guardians make the final decision regarding reading camp attendance (G.S. 115C-83.8(a))
  • LEAs must provide at least one alternative assessment or student reading portfolio opportunity before retaining a student (G.S. 115C-83.8(a))
  • Retained students must be assigned a teacher selected based on demonstrated student outcomes in reading proficiency (G.S. 115C-83.8(b))
  • Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, retained students must receive at least 90 minutes of daily, uninterrupted, Science of Reading-based instruction, not to include independent reading time (G.S. 115C-83.8(b))
  • Instruction for retained students beginning 2022-2023 must be outlined in each student's Individual Reading Plan (G.S. 115C-83.8(b))
  • The State Board of Education must establish a midyear promotion policy for retained students who demonstrate reading proficiency by November 1 (G.S. 115C-83.8(c))
  • Principals must use G.S. 115C-288(a) to grade and classify students demonstrating proficiency after the November 1 midyear promotion deadline (G.S. 115C-83.8(c))
  • Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, students retained twice must be offered supplemental tutoring grounded in the Science of Reading outside the instructional day (G.S. 115C-83.8(e))

Affected parties

  • Local school administrative units (must comply — provide reading camps, alternative assessments, qualified teachers, 90-min SoR instruction, and supplemental tutoring)
  • State Board of Education (must comply — establish midyear promotion policy and approve alternative assessments/portfolio processes)
  • Principals (must comply — apply G.S. 115C-288(a) for post-November 1 reclassification)
  • Third-grade students retained under G.S. 115C-83.7(a) (benefit — receive SoR instruction, midyear promotion opportunity, qualified teacher)
  • Students retained twice under G.S. 115C-83.7(a) (benefit — offered Science of Reading-based tutoring outside school day)
  • Parents and guardians (benefit — hold final decision on reading camp; receive supplemental tutoring offer for twice-retained students)

Advocacy note

Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the 90-minute daily block for retained students must be explicitly Science of Reading-based AND tied to each student's Individual Reading Plan — meaning a generic intervention block does not satisfy the statute; the IRP must drive and document the instruction.

Official source

https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_115C/GS_115C-83.8.pdf