The Mississippi Department of Education will hold five meetings throughout the state for parents of kindergarten through third grade students to share information on how they can help their child become better readers. 

The meetings will provide an overview of the Literacy-Based Promotion Act and teach strategies that parents can use at home to help their children improve their reading.

The first meeting is in Oxford on Feb. 11 at the Oxford Convention Center.

“Parents are their child’s first teacher, and reading with children is a proven way to promote early literacy,” said Dr. Kymyona Burk, state literacy director. “Helping to make sure children are reading on grade level by third grade is one of the most important things a parent can do to prepare their children for the future.”

The Literacy-Based Promotion Act focuses on prevention and intervention to help children develop the reading skills required for fourth grade. The legislation requires that third-grade students who do not meet reading standards by the end of the school year will not be promoted to fourth grade, unless they meet standards for exemption.

The Literacy-Based Promotion Act has made reading instruction a major focus of kindergarten through third grade. Throughout the school year, teachers have been providing intensive reading instruction to students reading below grade level. Parent involvement is also critical to students’ success.

“By reading with their child for 20 minutes per day and making a few simple strategies a part of their daily routine, parents can make a positive impact on their child’s success in school,” Burk said.