Mississippi have raised the reading bar in the controversial mandatory retention policy which was implemented in 2015 for third graders. The implementation of the system in 2015 makes Mississippi one of the six states to have implemented such nationwide.
Though the policy remains controversial nationwide, other states such as Alabama, Michigan, and Nevada are considering the same policy. Experts agreed that the policy helps boost student literacy level for a while before it fades away.
Initially, the state necessitates its third grader student to pass the threshold reading test or be barred from advancing to the fourth grade. Then, it only requires a student in the five tiers to just reach a second or basic level on the state test score. But with the implementation of the “high-stakes bar”, there are expectations from students to reach the 3rd level, which is a step short to proficiency.
Has third graders are taking the reading test this week, state and local officials assumed more student would fail the test even with improve teaching methods.
The plan was adopted by the Republican lawmakers in the state from Florida on the ground that it improves the overall performance of students in the nationwide test in Florida and they gave it their full support to see its passage into law.
Reacting to the latest development, the director of literacy in the state, Kymyona Burk, said we need our student to start moving towards attaining the proficiency level in the reading test and prepping them for fourth grade.
Although the development hasn’t seen any systematized setback, teachers, students, and parents are concerned the high-stakes testing can bring about nervousness.
