As states pass laws requiring schools to follow the “science of reading,” one aspect of these policies has stirred up particular controversy: Holding back struggling readers who don’t reach ...

Lori Robertson knew the stakes were high. Under a new Louisiana law, the third graders she taught this summer at J.B. Nachman Elementary School in Alexandria would have to pass a reading test or be ...

The release of TCAP reading scores on May 19 set off a fast-moving timeline for thousands of Tennessee third graders to avoid being held back. A state reading and retention law hinges on third grade ...

Natasha Davis has always encouraged her daughters to read. So she was delighted when Nilah, a third grader at King Elementary School, and Miryssa, a fifth grader, came home one day toting bright ...

A third grade reading and retention law took effect for Tennessee public school children in 2023. Students must meet a state reading benchmark or take extra steps to avoid being held back. Three full ...

MSCS third-graders showed improvement on the 2025 TCAP English Language Arts section, with 29.2% meeting or exceeding expectations. Prior to exemptions and other interventions, 68% of MSCS ...