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the alabama literacy act | What the data means

By: Keara Holmes | Revised 1/16/2026

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is your child ready for 3rd grade reading?

With new data showing that thousands of Alabama students are struggling to meet the requirements of the Alabama Literacy Act, the pressure is on. In my latest blog post, I break down the 2023-24 retention stats, explain the "Good Cause Exemptions," and share why Explicit Direct Instruction is the secret to moving your child from "at-risk" to "fluent." Don’t wait for the spring retest—learn how to build a solid reading foundation today.

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THE REAL NUMBERS: IT'S NOT JUST A THEORY ANYMORE

Recent data from the Alabama Department of Education reveals a fascinating and somewhat urgent picture:

The Summer Save: Out of 4,800 students who initially struggled on the spring reading test, over 3,000 took a summer retest. Nearly half of them reached the benchmark! This proves that intensive summer intervention works.
The Retention Reality: Ultimately, 452 third graders were retained across the state. While this is less than 1% of the total population, it represents a group of children who are still searching for the right key to unlock reading.
The Exemption Safety Net: About 1,553 students with disabilities were promoted via "Good Cause Exemptions" because they had already received two years of intervention.

Why "Explicit Instruction" is the Answer

If your child was among those who "just missed" the mark or is currently struggling in K-2, the state’s answer is Explicit Direct Instruction. This isn't about "guessing from the pictures." It’s a structured approach where the teacher:

Directly explains the rule (e.g., "When two vowels go walking...").
Models the skill clearly.
Scaffolds practice so the student never feels lost.

For students with learning difficulties, this removes the ambiguity that often leads to "shutting down" during reading time.

Beating the "Summer Slide" at Holmes Tutoring

The data shows that summer is the most critical time for a struggling reader. At Holmes Tutoring, our Summer Reading Camps are designed specifically to be that "bridge" to sufficiency.

Targeted Growth: We focus on the exact 2nd and 3rd-grade standards the state tests for.
Evidence-Based: We use the same systematic, direct instruction that the Alabama Literacy Act identifies as "best practice."
Foundation First: For our youngest learners, our "All About the ABCs" and Phonological Awareness Made Ea-Zy classes ensure they never end up in that "at-risk" category to begin with.

Expert Tip: To support this structured learning at home, I highly recommend using the program Funnix. This program has a built-in narrator that provides direct instruction in a scope and sequence that is relevant for young learners.

Looking for a screen-free alternative, All About Reading is an excellent direct instruction program. It's a full, comprehensive phonics program with decodable readers, and it's multisensory, which is perfect for students with dyslexia and other reading disabilities.

(Stay tuned to Holmes Tutoring's Facebook page for our future Summer Reading Cohorts announcement.)

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Don’t Wait for the Retest

The 2023-24 stats prove that intervention works, but waiting until the end of 3rd grade creates unnecessary stress for your child. Whether you are in Lee County or elsewhere in Alabama, let's get a plan in place now.

Book Now

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