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During the Alabama State Board of Education’s monthly meeting, State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey announced that, according to preliminary self-reported numbers from some school districts, almost 1,800 3rd graders will be held back this school year due to reading scores.
School districts have until Sept. 16 to submit their scores to the Alabama Department of Education, when these numbers will be finalized.
Mackey noted students have always been retained for low reading scores, but now there’s the Alabama Literacy Act component. The Literacy Act went into full effect during the 2023-2024 school year and ensures all students know how to read proficiently before leaving 3rd grade.
The benchmark for 3rd graders represents a shift from students learning to read to then reading to learn instead. Without these critical skills, children can’t use this foundation to gain knowledge in other subjects.
In the spring, test results revealed that nearly 5,000 3rd graders had yet to reach the benchmark for reading levels to move up to 4th grade. Just over 3,000 3rd graders retested during the summer, and of those students, 1,337 passed the benchmark.
While retaining children at any age is a big decision, doing it in the earliest grade possible is best.
“The later students are retained, the worse the social outcome,” Mackey said. “That’s why third grade isn’t considered the beginning. It’s kind of the last effort.”
At least 1,000 3rd graders are expected to be promoted under the “good cause” promotion. Students who are learning English or have previously been retained but now have individualized education programs make up some groups who will be permitted to go on to the next grade under the “good cause” exemption.
Students who do not go on to the next grade will receive more attention from teachers and additional reading time each day to eventually close the gap.
Mackey also mentioned that there would be a discussion about changing the cut score at an upcoming retreat, and then bringing it to a public work session in September with a possible vote in October.
By lowering the cut score, educators would have a higher confidence level that the students who are not meeting the benchmark would not succeed in the next grade.
