What will happen to 3rd graders who can't read at grade level under new Michigan law?

[TexasTowelie]

LANSING — A controversial reading law takes effect this school year and Michigan State University researchers say it could lead to thousands of students having to repeat third grade.

That is — if parents and administrators don’t find a way to push the child through to fourth grade.

Michigan’s Read by Third Grade law, approved in 2016, requires schools to identify students struggling to read through school-issued tests, then give those students individual reading improvement plans, access to early literacy coaches and a reading intervention program, among other resources.

It leads up to the Michigan Student Test of Education Progress (M-STEP) in the third-grade year. Third graders with cut scores of 1,252 or lower in the English and language arts portion of the test, could be held back. Additional reading help will be recommended for students scoring between 1,253 and 1,271, but they will not be considered for retention.

Read more: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2019/08/06/what-if-3rd-graders-cant-read-well-enough-under-new-michigan-law/1920899001/

[mainstreetonce]

1. Very wrong

Retention will not help and may make new problems.

[lark]

2. How will promoting them be helpful when they can't do the work because they can't read?

Give them the help they need, that's #1. My son who had difficulties with saying certain letters was helped quite a bit by extra tutoring and in one year was able to say words with S and F correctly. I know it's not the same, but still it is a skill and it can be taught. Even kids with dyslexia an be taught how to read, it just takes longer and they need specialized tutoring. There was a kd in my sons class who was held back a year and he was very popular and did great after his year of special help.

Edit - corrected typo

[mainstreetonce]

3. They need the remedial help

Simply retaining them is not giving them reading help.

[lark]

4. That is not at all what I said.

I specifically talked about giving them extra help and tutoring and about not embarrassing them by promoting them to do work they are incapable of. I do believe strongly in split programs where warranted. A friend of my daughters' was held back a year in Math, but promoted in her other classes. Her math program was a special version where she really worked on both years, received tutoring twice a week for the school year and was able to pass the competency test for the higher grade at the end of the year. I don't know if that would work for reading, though, since it is so totally foundational?

[virgogal]

5. The earlier they are held back,the better. First grade is the best.

I’ve been a strong advocate for this for years,and have seen it’s success.

[Phoenix61]

6. Retention absolutely can help.

Every school system has a cut off date for starting school. There is a large developmental difference between a child who just turned 5 and one who is almost 6. Not to mention individual differences. Promoting a child into a situation where they are guaranteed to fail is cruel. Also, most children like being the oldest, the one who knows the ropes etc.

[mainstreetonce]

7. Oh that is true

The child with a maturity problem can be helped by an extra primary year

I took this post to be addressing children with a serious reading problem and another year in third grade is not the answer.
The decision on retention should not be based on a reading test score.