Dissertation Defense Announcement

College of Education announces the Final Dissertation Defense of

Sebrina Perkins

for the Degree of Doctor of Education

March 12, 2019 at 9:00 AM in Ball Hall, Room 123

Advisor: Reginald Green

Reading Strategies Implemented by Teachers whose Students Successfully Passed the Third Grade Reading Summative Assessment in the State of Mississippi

ABSTRACT: In 2013, to improve the literacy skills of students beginning in kindergarten and extending through third grade, the Mississippi State Legislature passed the Literacy- Based Promotion Act. The law requires every school district in the state to provide a strong reading-intensive based curriculum, as well as interventions for students displaying a substantial deficiency in reading. The law also mandates that school districts deny promotion from third to fourth grade for any student whose deficiency in reading is not remediated before the end of third grade. While many students are successful and are promoted to fourth grade, a large percentage of third grade students are being retained as they cannot pass the required summative assessment. The researcher used a qualitative case study design to identify the strategies and practices implemented by third grade teachers whose students passed the reading assessment and were promoted to fourth grade. Fifteen third- grade reading teachers from multiple school districts in Mississippi participated in the study. From an analysis of the fifteen interviews, five strategies emerged that were implemented by teachers whose students passed the assessment. These strategies correlate with reading practices and strategies used to effectively teach reading instruction.