OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Improving the quality of education is one of the three major areas Governor Terry Branstad wants to focus on this legislative session.
One proposal currently in the works in both the House and the Senate is early-grade literacy. Specifically, holding back third grade students if they fail to meet reading standards.
In our area, that requirement may not be a bad thing.
"I don't have a problem with a third grade retention decision, provided families and school systems have the resources that they need so students can get the progress they need to so that they are reading at grade level by third grade," said Dr. Jon Sheldahl, Chief of the Greater Prairie AEA.
The Senate and the House currently have two different versions of this proposal. The House's is the same as the governor's, except retention requirements would be delayed until the 2016-2017 school year.
The Senate version maintains an emphasis on early literacy, but does not include the mandatory retention.
The proposal is based off a reading model that saw success in a Florida school system. That system also held third graders to the retention requirements.
"Research indicates that if a student is not on grade level by third grade, then they will continue to fall behind more quickly and they will likely not graduate and likely not get caught up," Dr. Sheldahl said. "The reason being, is that in preschool, kindergarten, first, second and even third grade too... third grade is that transitional year where kids go from being taught how to read to being expected to read."
All versions of the proposal include exceptions and allowances for children with learning disabilities.
The early-grade literacy proposal, like the other proposals outlined in the education reform plan, is in the process of debate and restructuring.
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