Missouri senators debated an education bill Wednesday that aims to determine whether students who struggle to read should be promoted from third grade to fourth grade.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Brad Hudson, R‑Cape Fair, focuses on early literacy instruction in Missouri’s elementary schools, including how reading is taught, intervention efforts, how students are screened for reading difficulties and how teachers are trained.
One provision discussed during state Senate debate would change how reading proficiency is measured when determining whether a student should be retained in third grade.
“It provides that Missouri reading screener results, rather than the MAP test, shall be used to determine whether students with substantial reading deficiency shall be retained in third grade,” Hudson said.
During debate, Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D‑Kansas City, raised questions about how the third‑grade retention provision would work and emphasized the role of parents in decisions affecting their children.
“I recognize, just as my role as a parent, how important it is for me to say, ‘No, I’m mom — I actually know what’s best going forward for my kid,’ and being that advocate for my kid,” Nurrenbern said.
Hudson said discussions are ongoing about whether to expand the list of exemptions.
The bill also includes “good cause” exemptions that would allow some students to advance despite reading deficiencies.
“Exemptions with regard to children with certain disabilities, exemptions with regard to children to English as their second language, exemption with regard to a student that has already been held back,” Hudson said. “And I’m having conversations with other people about broadening that a little bit.”
Following debate, the Senate did not take an initial vote on the bill but could debate legislation again.
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