INDIANAPOLIS — The Senate passed a bill Thursday afternoon that addresses the reading scores of Hoosier third graders.
Current statistics from the Indiana Department of Education show 1 in 5 Indiana students cannot read by the end of third grade.
Both Senate Republicans and Democrats agreed the state’s reading statistics show Indiana has a crisis when it comes to literacy.
The best way to fix the issue, though, is where the debate began.
Under Senate Bill 1, all school districts would be required to give the IREAD exam to second graders instead of waiting until they’re in third grade.
Right now, 60% of Indiana students already take the test in second grade.
If a student fails the IREAD test in second grade, schools would be required to provide help and summer school, but students would not be required to go.
Students who take the IREAD test again in third grade and fail would be held back.
The bill’s author, Rep. Linda Rogers, R-District 11, said this is not a retention bill, but said sometimes that’s what may be needed.
“While some may say retention is not good for the child, let’s think about this. What isn’t good is to move a student on without foundational reading skills,” she said.
In the bill, there are some exceptions to holding a student back.
Kids with special needs or those who speak English as a second language could be exempt, along with students who have already been held back twice before they reach third grade.
SB 1 requires schools to create an appeals process for parents if they believe their child should not be held back.
Those who voted against the bill took issue with the mandatory retention part of SB 1, saying school districts needed more time to implement science of reading requirements passed by the legislature last session.
“Now is not the time for this specific legislation that includes the hammer of retention. We’re taking away the discretion of our school administrators and our parents by implementing this blanket approach,” said Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-District 46.
Both Democrats and Republican have said literacy is a top priority this session. It’s also on Gov. Eric Holcomb’s agenda.
Senate Bill 1 now heads to the House, where lawmakers will decide if it gets a hearing in committee.