Strategic Priority 1 - Goal 1
Objective
Increase the percent of students reading proficiently by the end of Grade 3 and minimize disparities across student groups
Measure
State Reading Assessment - By 2029, HCPSS will increase the percent of students reading by Grade 3, as demonstrated on the Grade 3 state English Language Arts/Literacy assessment, from 64% to 73%.
Equity commitment
HCPSS will narrow disparities and opportunities such that at least 58% of students across all racial/ethnic groups are proficient, and at least 43% of students eligible for services are proficient by 2029.
Annual Targets
Percentage of Grade 3 Students Meeting Proficiency on MCAP English Language Arts
| Student Group | 2024 Actual | 2025 Target | 2026 Target | 2027 Target | 2028 Target | 2029 Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Students | 64% | 66% | 68% | 69% | 71% | 73% |
| Am Indian/AK Native | 82% | 83% | 83% | 84% | 85% | 86% |
| Asian | 78% | 79% | 81% | 82% | 83% | 84% |
| Black or African American | 45% | 48% | 51% | 54% | 57% | 60% |
| Hispanic/Latino of any race | 43% | 46% | 49% | 52% | 55% | 58% |
| White | 74% | 75% | 77% | 78% | 79% | 81% |
| Two or more races | 69% | 71% | 72% | 74% | 75% | 77% |
| Economically Disadvantaged | 36% | 40% | 43% | 47% | 50% | 54% |
| Special Education | 19% | 24% | 29% | 33% | 38% | 43% |
| Multilingual Learner | 40% | 42% | 45% | 48% | 50% | 53% |
Note: Data not reported for student groups with fewer than 10 students in 2024.
Why was this measure selected?
The State assessment in English language arts/literacy measures students’ proficiency on the content outlined in the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards, which were designed to prepare students for life beyond the classroom (e.g., critical thinking, reading texts closely and attentively). The standards also capture “what it means to be a literate person who is prepared for success in the 21st century.” (source: MSDE)
How were targets set?
The Maryland Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provided targets for each school to reduce the percent of students not proficient by half by 2032, using 2017 performance as the baseline. These targets were calculated for Grade 3. For historically-underserved student groups, their ESSA annual growth targets were increased to further reduce disparities across student groups.