When I read the headlines I just couldn't figure how failing third graders who do not pass the reading portion of the MEAP would "increase literacy rates"? I figured I must be missing a critical piece of Rep. Price's argument, so I took a look at the bill (House Bill No. 5111). I figured it must be at least ten pages long--or long enough to provide the nuanced solution required for such a complex problem. No, not ten pages. Not five pages. It's literally one page long. It says exactly what the DFP headline says: 3rd graders who don't score "proficient" on the reading portion of the MEAP will have to retake 3rd grade.
One lawmaker said he couldn't believe there was any controversy over this legislation. After all, it's a no-brainer: All 3rd graders should know how to read. The controversy isn't about the goal that every 3rd grader should be able to read proficiently. The controversy is in using the MEAP as the sole indicator for determining reading proficiency. The controversy is in suggesting that k - 2nd grade teachers aren't already doing their best work, that they really just need to be motivated with a larger stick--in this case, the knowledge that, if they can't get these kids to read, their soon to be third graders will fail third grade. The controversy is in dumbing-down this problem to this ridiculous premise that somehow parents will do more at home and students will work longer and harder if they only knew they could fail third grade.
The educational challenges that our nation faces are not going to be resolved through increasingly punitive, blanket measures. Yes, I totally want all kids to read proficiently by third grade. But the problems our kids face don't exist only in the classroom. Some simply don't test well. Others have no support at home. Others have loving homes, but parents are working all the time to insure bills are paid and food is available or the parents themselves may not have learned to be their kids' first teacher. Others come from homes where English is the second language, and the student may be the only one learning English. Others come from areas where survival is a daily challenge, so grades are the last battle to be fought. There is a never ending list of challenges for every kid and every neighborhood.
This proposed legislation adds one more layer of bureaucracy and pressure to an already burdened school system and home life. Our educational system does need work. We need to do better by our kids. But threatening everyone with failure won't get the results we all hope to achieve. Please urge your representatives to vote no on House Bill No. 5111!