OHIO — The Ohio Board of Education is set to meet Tuesday on repealing the retention provision from the Third-grade Reading Guarantee in order to allow schools and parents to have more of a say on the education path for children.

What You Need To Know

  • According to the board's agenda, in recent years less than half of the state's third-grade students scored at a proficiant level on Ohio's State Tests

  • Between 2020-2021 Ohio saw a decrease in literacy achievement

  • An average of 15% of retained third-graders attained proficiency on the assessment retake each year from 2013-2019, and proficiency continued to decrease in subsequent grades of those retained

  • Currently, if a third-grade student does not meet a minimum score on the third-grade English language arts assessment, the code does not allow them to move onto the fourth grade

According to the board's agenda, in recent years less than half of the state's third grade students scored at a proficiant level on Ohio's state tests. Ohio saw a decrease in literacy achievement between 2020-2021. 

"The board remains resolutely committed to addressing this statewide literacy crisis for the sake of each student and for the future of our state. Such a task requires honing what works and discarding what does not," the agenda said. "When state mandates are employed, they, like all school improvement initiatives, should be subject to ongoing analysis measuring their success or failure over time." 

Currently, if a third-grade student does not meet a minimum score on the third-grade English language arts assessment, the code does not allow them to move onto the fourth grade with limited exceptions. 

Between 2013-2019 an average of 15% of retained third-graders attained proficiency on the assessment retake each year, and proficiency continued to decrease in subsequent grades of those retained, according to the agenda. 

"As the results show, mandating third grade retention has not achieved the desired result," according to the agenda.

The board is recommending the removal of the retension provision and pushing for local involvement, including parents, for the education of the child. According to the agenda, repealing the retention provision will allow parents to become more involved in making retention decisions for their child.