LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas’ new third-grade literacy requirements are now in effect, and early results from the Little Rock School District show measurable improvement in student literacy performance.
During the 2025-2026 school year, third graders across the state were required to pass the English Language Arts portion of the ATLAS assessment to advance to fourth grade under the Arkansas LEARNS Act.
Little Rock School District Superintendent Dr. Jermall Wright said the district saw a 10 percent increase in the number of third graders performing at or above grade level this school year…