Senate Ed Chair Questions why More Third Graders are not Proficient Readers

The chair of the state Senate education committee wants to know why there aren’t more kids proficient in reading in third grade.

State Senator Phil Pavlov says he’s concerned that Michigan has made the largest investment in early childhood education in the country and kids still are making it to third grade without the highest proficiency in reading.

Pavlov says they need to examine the Great Start Readiness Program all the way up to third grade.

Earlier this month, the House passed 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 fourth grade.

Pavlov says he still needs to look at the legislation, which is headed to his committee.