The Alabama Board of Education voted to raise the score requirement on the state’s third grade reading test, the first step in determining whether a student can move on to fourth grade. The decision was met with some opposition from board members concerned the recommended score was too low. The new three-year plan will gradually increase the cut score for the upcoming school years.
The Alabama Literacy Act, passed in 2019, aims to ensure all third graders are reading on grade level before being promoted to the fourth grade. State Superintendent Eric Mackey initially opposed raising the cut score, but changed his position after seeing the strong performance of third graders on the reading test.
Concerns were raised about students who are “on the bubble,” meaning they scored between the cut score and the grade-level marker. 14% of third graders were in this category on the most recent test.
Mackey emphasized the importance of providing support and resources to students who may be struggling with reading, even if they meet the cut score. The state has allocated funding for testing fourth and fifth graders for reading deficiencies and is offering free training to teachers to help older students improve their reading skills.
The decision to raise the score requirement reflects the state’s commitment to ensuring all students are equipped with the necessary reading skills to succeed academically.
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