Kindergartners who started school scoring in the bottom 20% had only a 1 in 10 chance of reading proficiency by 3rd grade.

Proficiency by grade 3 is linked to long-term academic and life outcomes, making early identification of struggling students key.

Last September, Savannah-Chatham County public schools tried out an intensive new tutoring program to help struggling readers catch up before state reading tests at the end of 3rd grade. By winter, ...