Reading & Literacy News in Brief

Fla. Court Says 3rd Graders Must Take State Test

By The Associated Press — March 21, 2017 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

In a blow to parents seeking to have their children “opt out” of Florida’s high-stakes tests, an appeals court has ruled that school districts have a right to hold 3rd graders back when they score badly on a state reading test.

The court threw out a ruling by a lower-court judge who said a handful of districts must consider options other than students’ performances on the Florida Standards Assessment when deciding whether to promote a student. The three-judge panel concluded that the state had a “compelling interest” to make sure students do not have a reading deficiency.

Last year, the parents of more than a dozen children sued so that their children would not have to repeat the 3rd grade. The lawsuit maintained that the children should have been promoted because they got good grades and demonstrated they could read at grade level.

A version of this article appeared in the March 22, 2017 edition of Education Week as Fla. Court Says 3rd Graders Must Take State Test

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Making Science Stick: The Engaging Power of Hands-On Learning
How can you make science class the highlight of your students’ day while
achieving learning outcomes? Find out in this session.
Content provided by LEGO Education
Teaching Profession Key Insights to Elevate and Inspire Today’s Teachers
Join this free half day virtual event to energize your teaching and cultivate a positive learning experience for students.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Reading & Literacy Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About Cultivating Student Engagement in Reading?
Answer 7 questions about cultivating student engagement in reading.
Reading & Literacy Q&A Why Reading Support Classes Help High Schoolers Succeed
Biology, literature, calculus, U.S. history—all high school courses, regardless of subject, require a strong literacy skills.
4 min read
Jennifer Norrell, superintendent of East Aurora School District 131, stands for a portrait at the Resilience Education Center in Aurora, Ill., on Dec. 4, 2024.
Jennifer Norrell, superintendent of East Aurora School District 131, at the Resilience Education Center in Aurora, Ill., on Dec. 4, 2024.
Jamie Kelter Davis for Education Week
Reading & Literacy 5 Ways Teachers Can Get Boys to Love Reading
Students' reading scores have hit record lows, with boys' scores falling furthest. Pleasure reading could help.
5 min read
An elementary student reads on his own in class.
An elementary student reads on his own in class.
Allison Shelley/EDUimages
Reading & Literacy Researchers Created a Phonics Program With ‘Dramatic’ Results. How It Works
Consistent implementation of the 30-minute-a-day program fueled the results.
4 min read
Teacher holding up a card with the letters "sh" and a young elementary student writing with pencil on paper. The desk shows other cards with letters and a tablet device.
iStock/Getty