Ohio Third Graders Face Retention Ultimatum: Learn to Read or Repeat the Year
Ohio Third Graders Face Retention Ultimatum: Learn to Read or Repeat the Year
Ohio is one of 14 states to put in place a retention rule that holds back students who are not reading at grade level. Special correspondent John Tulenko reports on the “reading guarantee,” which educators say puts enormous pressure on them, and may not actually ensure educational success or lower dropout rates in the future.
JEFFREY BROWN: Next: a controversial stance in education, a guarantee that all students leaving third grade are able to read, and a commitment to hold back those who can’t. Fourteen states have adopted these so-called retention rules, while others are considering such legislation this year.
Special correspondent John Tulenko of Learning Matters reports from Ohio.
JOHN TULENKO: What if schools could make guarantees, too? In Ohio, they do.
New legislation guarantees that all third graders will read at grade level by the end of the year. Right now, 30 percent, some 40,000 students, are not.
Linda Hissett teaches third grade in Cincinnati.
LINDA HISSETT, teacher: I have some students who are at a kindergarten level reading, first grade level reading, second grade. I look at it with dismay.
JOHN TULENKO: Ms. Hissett is no fan of promoting children before they’re ready. She first saw the effects when she taught fifth grade.
LINDA HISSETT: Their whole day is made harder because all of our texts are based upon a fifth grade reading speed. Math class is harder because you’re having word problems, science, social studies.
So for them to be sitting in a class that is too hard for them, it’s making their education more of a challenge and an obstacle.