State lawmakers are concerned new Department of Education rules regarding the third-grade reading test could result in large amounts of third-graders being held back a year or longer.
Scores released in August showed that 55 percent of third-grade students did not meet the state's standards for reading. In Pontiac, 12.2 percent of third-graders passed the third-grade reading test. Many districts saw less than half of their youngsters achieve a “proficient” rating. Under Department of Education rules, those who do not score high enough could be held back a year.
William DiSessa, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Education, told the Detroit Free Press that the test requirements provide flexibility and opportunities to pass the test. He also said that students will not be held back a year; it will be up to the administration of each school district to decide if a student who does not pass the reading test will be held back a year or will advance with their classmates. The mandatory retention portion of a new law applies to students who are more than a year behind, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Alerts Sign-up