3rd Grade Reading Bill Narrowly Passes Michigan House

Lawmakers in the Michigan House have narrowly approved a plan to set reading benchmarks for third graders in the state and mandate they be held back a grade if they aren’t reading at grade level by the time they reach the fourth grade.

The bill was changed on the House floor Thursday to delay implementing holding a student back until the 2019-2020 school year.

State Representative Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, told lawmakers he’d rather hold a child back for one year than hold them back for life.

However State Representative Christine Greig, D-Northville, countered that parents should have a say on whether or not their child is held back a grade.

Thursday’s vote on the floor came after a seven hour session day Wednesday failed to produce a floor vote on the measure.

The House approved the bill 57-48.

The legislation now moves over to the Michigan Senate.