States considering bills that would make kids repeat third grade for failing reading tests

foxnews.com ^ | 2/13/12 | WSJ

[ColdOne]

DENVER – Lawmakers in at least four US states are considering legislation that would make students repeat third grade if they can't pass state reading exams, reviving debates about whether retaining students boosts achievement or increases their odds of dropping out.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Colorado introduced legislation early this month that would prod schools to hold back children in kindergarten through third grade who don't meet state reading standards. In the early grades, parents could insist the child be promoted, but at third grade, the school district would have the ultimate say.

"The goal is not to retain students, but to get parents, teachers and students all working collaboratively to address the literacy problems when they first show up," said Colorado state Sen. Mike Johnston, a Democrat who is a sponsor of the bill.

Iowa, New Mexico and Tennessee also are considering bills on the issue.

All the bills, as well as similar ones passed recently in Oklahoma, Arizona and Indiana, aim to address literacy deficiencies that exist nationwide. Only one third of US schoolchildren had proficient scores on the most recent national reading exam, and scores have barely budged in two decades. That comes as children have made steady gains in math.

[muawiyah]

Bob, what I told the GenXTeacher ~ the article's thesis is this is for kids who "CAN'T PASS" a test.

I view it as little more than a way of identifying future football players to give them an extra year of effective eligibility.

[Osage Orange]

Interesting story........

I've known some kids that just weren't ready to read, do math, swim, tie knots, ride a bike, learn about famous painter's, etc...at their age.

I think we attempt to place round pegs into square holes too much.....

I have some personal experience here....

I think much of it is related to age....

Some older cultures didn't even attempt to teach their children much...until they were older than 8. They were let to be children.......

I'm not sure that wasn't the best way.

I do know...that kids learn differently. Heck, adults learn differently.

FWIW-

[Bob]

Bob, what I told the GenXTeacher ~ the article's thesis is this is for kids who "CAN'T PASS" a test.

Again, you're making a presumption that "CAN'T PASS" means "CAN'T READ"; it doesn't.

I view it as little more than a way of identifying future football players to give them an extra year of effective eligibility.

Oh, please. You're talking as if the girls who can't pass are going to go on to play varsity football in high school. Please find yourself another strawman, that one's worn out.

[muawiyah]

Bob, you don't know those states ~ believe me, it's football PLUS one other angle ~ one more insidious. If they spend just one more year buried in grade school, they'll be one year older, and eligible to drop out their Junior year ~ and they'll miss SAT and other exams.

This will raise the local averages for the school system.

[Bob]

Bob, you don't know those states ~ believe me, it's football PLUS one other angle ~ one more insidious. If they spend just one more year buried in grade school, they'll be one year older, and eligible to drop out their Junior year ~ and they'll miss SAT and other exams.

This will raise the local averages for the school system.

Has anyone done any studies into this? I would think that if this were as common a practice as you suggest, that someone would have published an exposé on it.

[muawiyah]

I was thinking of writing a future best-seller on the education circuit called “Raise your SAT’s without effort”.

[muawiyah]

Regarding studies, it’s simple math. That’s been under development since before reading and writing........ What you might want to deal with is human avarice and how corrupt can you get. This piece http://www.wibc.com/news/story.aspx?ID=1572312 gives you an entry to the life and times of a former superintendent of schools in an Indianapolis suburb who would certainly think of such things. .....Throughout theMidwest school superintendents have remarkable authority ~ and they misuse it at will.