In the third grade, students take a battery of tests and exams to gauge just how well they read. But according to school officials, there’s a crucial problem with such a scenario: Oftentimes, third grade is too late. The school board next week will consider a proposal to institute a “reading recovery” program for first-grade students, meant to bridge the gap for children who may have fallen behind in language arts and literacy before they reach a critical age. Without extra help, those students could become part of the 44 percent of district third-graders who were unable to read at their expected level, Parla said. “It’s really meant to fill in gaps,” elementary language arts supervisor Kelli Eppley said at the school board meeting.