Families

The Alaska Reads Act was signed into law by Governor Mike Dunleavy in June 2022. The number one goal of the Alaska Reads Act is to support all students to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade. 

Click here for the Alaska Reads Act Family Resource. This document outlines a brief summary of information for parents. It tells parents what to expect and how to help partner with your child's school to support developing strong readers. 

We have the most success in helping kids learn at high levels when they are in school every day. In the fall of 2022, only 23% of kindergarten students arrived to the first day of school at benchmark, ready to learn.

Our teachers do an incredible job helping your child grow as a learner. Our skilled teachers and your child's regular attendance at school are the best combination possible in setting your learner up for academic success. 

During the fall, winter, and spring, the Alaska Reads Act requires that children who score well below average on the screener (aimswebPlus) are also screened for dyslexia.  Teachers use a tool called the Shaywitz Dyslexia Screener to determine if a student has risk factors for dyslexia.

• It is not an additional test that is given to a student, rather, it is a research-proven questionnaire a teacher fills out based on several weeks of observation. 
• It does not diagnose dyslexia, but it does inform teachers, so they can adjust their instructional practice and communicate with parents about what to do at home.

If a child is in the well below average range, and the Shaywitz Dyslexia Screener indicates they have risk factors for dyslexia, it does not mean the child should automatically be evaluated for a learning disability. 

• Research shows that when students are identified early and receive structured, explicit, systematic instruction, they will learn to read.
• The school district does not test for dyslexia, even when a student is referred for an evaluation through special education. 

If you have questions regarding dyslexia, please contact your principal, or the school psychologist.

In the fall of 2023, Mat-Su adopted a new literacy curriculum for grades K-5 by Curriculum Associates. This program is based on the Science of Reading, and every student in our traditional K-5 schools has access to a personalized pathway to reading success!

Families can also support their child's literacy development by encouraging them to read every day!

Strong Readers, Strong Leaders has a number of grade-level activities parents can do with kids at home to support their literacy development. Click here for a terrific family resource!

The Family Reading Support Guides linked below describe what students should know and be able to do at the end of each grade level. Check out your child's grade level for ideas about what they are learning and how you can reinforce that learning at home! 

• Kindergarten
• 1st Grade
• 2nd Grade
• 3rd Grade
• 4th Grade
• 5th Grade

Teachers have a number of tools available to help identify students with reading difficulties. This document outlines those tools, including aimswebPlus and the Shaywitz DyslexiaScreen.

The Alaska Reads Act requires a strong partnership between home and school in communicating about your child's reading progress. School Districts are expected to communicate about reading with families in grades K-3 on a routine basis.

Expect information from your child's teacher by:

• parent notification letters following fall, winter, and spring screening windows
• parent/teacher conferences
• standards-based report cards
• keeping an eye on ParentVUE
• other communication from school.

Students receiving support through an Individual Education Plan (IEP) continue to receive the support they need based on their plan. If their IEP does not include reading but they do not achieve a proficient score on the aimswebPlus screener, an Individual Reading Improvement Plan will be created for them. 

The Alaska Reads Act requires an additional 20 hours of summer instruction for 3rd graders who are progressed to 4th grade but remain in Tier 3. The parents of these students have signed the state waiver allowing them to progress and agreeing to 20 additional hours of summer instruction.

MSBSD is proud to provide an annual summer STEAM academy managed by Chasitie Cork, Program Administrator for Federal Programs. 3rd graders who require the additional 20 hours will have priority for enrollment in this existing program. Information pertaining to summer school will go out to principals in March.

Check out our community campaign at www.matsuk12.us/matsureads

Click here to submit a question about the Alaska Reads Act & literacy in MSBSD.