G.S. 115C-83.9 — Read to Achieve

Plain English summary

Schools must notify parents in writing — promptly — any time a K-3 student is struggling with reading or reading below grade level, and must explain in writing why a child is being held back and what literacy interventions will be provided. If a child is actually retained, parents must receive at least monthly written progress reports, and teachers and principals must offer opportunities such as information sessions to discuss all of these notices with families.

Key requirements

• Parents or guardians must be notified in writing, in a timely manner, that a student may be retained if not demonstrating reading proficiency by the end of third grade (G.S. 115C-83.9(a))
• Written notice is triggered when a K-3 student (i) is demonstrating difficulty with reading development or (ii) is not reading at grade level (G.S. 115C-83.9(a))
• Parents or guardians of any student to be retained under G.S. 115C-83.7(a) must be notified in writing of the reason the student is not eligible for a good cause exemption as provided in G.S. 115C-83.7(b) (G.S. 115C-83.9(b))
• Before the 2022-2023 school year: written notification must include a description of proposed reading interventions to remediate identified areas of reading deficiency (G.S. 115C-83.9(b), pre-2022-2023 version)
• Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year: written notification must include a description of proposed literacy interventions to remediate areas where the student has not demonstrated reading proficiency (G.S. 115C-83.9(b), 2022-2023 and later version)
• Parents or guardians of retained students must receive at least monthly written reports on student progress toward reading proficiency (G.S. 115C-83.9(c))
• Progress evaluation must be based on classroom work, observations, tests, assessments, and other relevant information (G.S. 115C-83.9(c))
• Teachers and principals must provide opportunities, including but not limited to information sessions, to discuss the required notifications with parents and guardians (G.S. 115C-83.9(d))

Affected parties

• Public school teachers (must comply — provide notices and information sessions)
• Public school principals (must comply — provide opportunities to discuss notifications)
• Local education agencies (must comply — ensure written notification systems are in place)
• Parents and guardians of K-3 students struggling with reading or reading below grade level (benefit — receive written notices)
• Parents and guardians of students facing retention under G.S. 115C-83.7(a) (benefit — receive written explanation and intervention plan)
• Parents and guardians of retained students (benefit — receive at least monthly written progress reports)
• K-3 students with reading difficulties or below-grade-level reading (benefit — their families are informed and engaged in intervention planning)

Advocacy note

The notice obligation in G.S. 115C-83.9(a) is triggered by two independent conditions — a student demonstrating difficulty with reading development OR a student not reading at grade level — meaning schools must notify parents at the first sign of struggle, not just when retention becomes imminent, giving families an earlier and more actionable entry point to request intervention.

Official source

https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_115C/GS_115C-83.9.pdf