Columbia, SC: Students struggle with reading

Aug 4, 2017, Columbia SC, The State: Struggling readers in York County may be forced to repeat third grade http://www.thestate.com/news/state/south-carolina/article165603882.html Starting this school year, South Carolina third-graders who struggle to read on grade level could be forced to repeat the grade. It’s a measure designed to ensure students don’t move on before they are ready, said Ryan Brown, spokesperson for S.C. Department of Education. BY THE NUMBERS ▪ 3,215 – S.C. third-graders who scored low enough in 2016 to repeat the grade, roughly 5 percent of nearly 60,000 third-graders ▪ 223 – Third-graders in the York, Chester and Lancaster districts who scored low enough to repeat the grade ▪ 8,229 – S.C. third-graders recommended to attend summer reading camps in 2016 ▪ 4,616 – S.C. third-graders who attended summer reading camps in 2016 ▪ $164 million – State spending on summer reading camps and reading coaches since the 2014 reading law passed. ▪ 653 – Reading coaches paid for by the state to serve every S.C. elementary school. Some districts spent more to hire additional coaches.