State law currently recommends holding kids back with some exceptions if they don’t meet certain benchmarks in the third grade.
Democratic Representative Nate Shannon says those kids would still get extra resources even if they move to the next grade.
“There are all kinds of ways that we can help students. And it doesn’t start and stop in third grade. It continues on.”
But Republican Representative Brad Paquette says the policy is too new to throw out.
“It is never too early to take ownership for one’s learning in second or third grade. And until the data becomes available here in Michigan, one must infer that this legislation is working as intended.”
Independent House analysis shows fewer than ten percent of eligible students have been held back under this law.