Fact: The U.S. State of Arizona has passed a law that will be implemented next year mandating that all third graders must pass a reading test or risk being held back.
http://www.necn.com/04/27/13/Arizona-literacy-law-kicks-in-next-year/landing_nation.html?&apID=6d71b8a0aea34d748677ca6de9fbb191
The idea behind the law is to motivate teachers to better identify at-risk students before they reach the third grade. Early interventions tend to have better outcomes, and, to state the obvious, it is much more positive for the child’s psychology if they spend as few years as possible “falling behind” or “failing” in school.
Previous literacy research has shown that third graders who have an appropriate reading level are more likely to go to college.
Arizona joins 32 other states that are targeting literacy levels at third grade in an effort to improve the school system.
What do you think? Should a child be held back a year if they can’t pass a reading test?
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Sarah Forrest is a System Coach for the Easyread System, an online phonics course for struggling readers. Easyread specializes in helping kids with dyslexia, auditory processing disorder, highly visual learning styles, and more. Find out more at www.morganlearning.com
There is very little evidence to support the practice of retaining students as a way to improve their chances of academic success in the future. While it’s clear we need to provide some kind of intervention when a student is falling behind, this is a lazy, knee-jerk reaction to a complicated problem, with great potential to harm vulnerable children. Honestly, is it meant to motivate teachers? At whose cost?
Hi Pat – Thanks for your thoughts! – Sarah