Frequently Asked Questions
How are students chosen for Read 180? What is Read 180? If I want my child in Read 180, what should I do? Can I schedule a visit to the classroom? Is the Read 180 program for elementary or high school? Is this a special education or English language learner classroom? How are students chosen for Read 180?1. Students are identified as "at risk" after taking the Stanford Diagnostic Reading Test.
2. Students who are:
Rising 7th graders and score 2 grade levels or less than their current grade level
Rising 6th graders and score 2 or more grade levels below their current grade level
Rising 5th graders and score 2 or more grade levels below their current grade level
*At this time, age is also a consideration. Those students who have been retained are also considered.
**Rising 5th graders Dibels scores are also taken into consideration.
are then given an Independent Reading Inventory and are interviewed by Mrs. Taylor or Mrs. Cross.
3. Teacher recommendation is then a part of the decision making process. The teachers are asked to rate the child on his or her desire to learn and self motivation capabilities, his or her learning capabilities, and his or her behavior.
4. At this time, students are invited into the classroom. Time is spent sharing about the Read 180 classroom and program.
New students at WPS are tested at the beginning of the year with the SDRT to give a base line idea of where the child is reading. Then the next steps in the process would be taken to see whether the child qualifies or not.
TCAP scores were not chosen as a way to measure the child's reading capabilities. This is due to the fact that the TCAP test consists of more language and writing results than actual comprehension. This does not mean that the TCAP scores would never be considered, it is just another type of measurement.
It is important to look at many pieces of data and most importanly, listen to the child read, before making the decision to place them in the program.
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If I want my child in Read 180, what should I do?Please, feel free to contact White Pine School and speak with the guidance counselor, Sheila Blakely. She will glad to set up a meeting with you to discuss the test results and further testing if needed. The number to WPS is 865-674-2596.
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Can I schedule a visit to the classroom?Contact White Pine School at 865-674-2596 and ask for Mrs. Lori Cross. She is the Read 180 assisstant and will be glad to schedule a time to visit.
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Is the Read 180 program for elementary or high school?Scholastic's Read 180 program is for all grades. Jefferson County Schools currently have one classroom in each of our four middle schools: White Pine, Rush Strong, Maury, Jefferson Middle and there is one classroom in Jefferson County High School.
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Is this a special education or English language learner classroom?No, it is not. There are special education students as well as English language learners who qualify for the program. However, not all would qualify. There are many disabilities and reasons why a student might qualify for special education services, but not all of those students are going to be successful in the Read 180 classroom. Both the special education and ELL population receive academic internention services, but many of students who are behind in reading receive no intervention.
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