A new law goes into effect this school year that will hold children back in the third grade if they are not meeting reading requirements to help bring up Louisiana’s literacy rates. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says this year’s third graders will be the first class that must demonstrate proficiency in reading to graduate to the fourth grade…
“and so students will take a brief screener at least three times a year and that information, the results will be shared with parents and shared with teachers.”
If third graders score in the “well below” category, which about 30 percent of the third-grade students did last year, they will be put into extra tutoring and support programs in hopes of later testing high enough to advance to fourth grade.
:What this does is ends the concept of “social promotion” from third to fourth grade and it makes sure students demonstrate reading proficiency at some level in order to move on to the fourth grade beyond the third.”
If a student gets a “well below” score after three tests, additional tutoring, and doesn’t meet any of the excused reasons Brumley says they have additional options throughout the summer leading up to the start of the fourth-grade school year…
“But at the end of the day if that child can’t show proficiency in reading for the beginning of that fourth grade year they’re not going to be promoted into that fourth grade classroom.”
The legislature invested $30 million into intensive tutoring programs during the school day and increased the cap of potential scholarships through the Steve Carter Literacy Program for after-school help.
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