Study Links Third Grade Reading with Later Outcomes «

Study Links Third Grade Reading with Later Outcomes «

Study Links Third Grade Reading with Later Outcomes

May 9, 2011 by Irene Sege

Photo: Kate Samp for Strategies for Children

A recent longitudinal analysis of children in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) adds to our understanding of the role of third grade reading in later academic performance. Researchers from the University of Chicago used administrative data to track educational outcomes for 26,000 students who were third graders in 1996-97. (Download “Reading on Grade Level in Third Grade.”)

“Findings from this study are consistent with existing literature that emphasizes the importance of early reading ability for future educational success,” the report concludes. “Third-grade reading level was shown to be significant predictor of eighth-grade reading level and ninth-grade course performance even after accounting for demographic characteristics and how a