A significant reading deficiency, or a SRD, is a term used to describe a student who does not meet the minimum skill levels for reading competency in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, or reading fluency. This includes oral skills and reading comprehension established for the student’s grade level.In short, they are falling behind in the most basic foundational skills of reading and need assistance to ensure they are on track to be reading successfully by the end of third grade. In Colorado, students with a SRD receive specific assistance in the form of an intensive plan developed by their teacher in partnership with their parents.