Limestone County Schools uses summer programs to improve reading scores

LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. ( WHNT ) — In the spring of last year, the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) test results came back, and they weren’t at the level the Limestone County School district wanted to see.

That’s when the superintendent said they decided to ramp up their summer learning program, hoping to keep kids on track for the fall.

Randy Shearouse and his staff are working together closely after getting back the results of the state’s standardized ACAP test.

The ACAP test does not have a grade attached to it, but it does give districts a good idea of their second and third-graders’ reading level.

“The testing is important, and we are going to do everything that we can to teach our kids to read,” said Shearouse.

Students who aren’t reading on grade level by the end of third grade could be held back. That’s something Shearouse and his staff are trying to avoid.

The district implemented several programs this summer, including supporting teachers’ knowledge of an evidence-based reading approach while focusing on ways to improve attendance – especially in rural area schools where it can be more difficult to avoid unexcused absences.

“Attendance is one area we must improve because we want kids at school each day,” Shearouse explained. When they miss a day of school, they miss a lot of instruction, so that’s an area we are focused on—improving those attendance issues that some students have.”

Director of Curriculum Rebecca Dunnivant told News 19 that the focus remains on improving those ACAP reading scores.

“We want all of our students to be successful in the future and this is a benchmark that the state has set, and we want to help every child meet it that we can,” said Dunnivant.

Dunnivant, noting some improvement from last year, said the district is still working to determine who will be retained. Some students could meet a good cause exemption and must decide if they qualify.

There was, however, a good number to qualify after taking the ACAP Supplemental this summer, and they will not be retained.

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