From the American Educational Research Association (AERA) convention in New Orleans: A new study by Hunter College’s Donald Hernandez shows third grade reading proficiency is a strong predictor of graduation rates. According to Education Week’s Inside School Research blog, which has been covering the AERA convention, Hernandez’ study shows, “A student who can’t read on grade level by 3rd grade is four times less likely to graduate by age 19 than a child who does read proficiently by that time. Add poverty to the mix, and a student is 13 times less likely to graduate on time than his or her proficient, wealthier peer.”
UPDATE: The study, “Double Jeopardy: How Third-Grade Reading Skills and Poverty Influence High School Graduation,” has been posted by the Annie E. Casey Foundation here.
For more information:
- Read EdWeek’s coverage of the study here
- More information about the AERA convention
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