Intervention, not retention: Education advocates support enhancements to reading skills bill

Senate Bill 1 would require retention of third grade students who do not meet reading proficiency on the state test. Education advocates support enhancements to the bill to ensure early intervention and reduce retention rates. Senate Bill 1, known as the reading skills bill, was passed by the senate on Jan. 18. The bill would require intensive interventions with the goal of improving literacy scores for students. Some of the interventions would include summer school, participation in the science of reading and identifying students who may need additional reading instruction. It would also require students to be retained if they do not meet reading proficiency on the statewide assessment. The reading skills bill states that based on the evaluations given in the 2024-25 school year, retention and remediation would be required for certain schools “if the student has not achieved a passing score on evaluation.” This means students may have to repeat third grade if they do not reach reading proficiency and if they do not qualify for one of the exemptions. To qualify for an exemption, a student must have been retained in the previous year, have a disability or Individualize Education Plan (IEP) that says retention is not...