CLEVELAND, Ohio-In Ohio, a new policy allows parents to promote third graders who fail state reading benchmarks, shifting the decision from schools to families. This change, part of a shift from the state’s previous Third Grade Reading Guarantee, has led to an unprecedented surge in students advancing to fourth grade despite poor reading skills. While districts are required to provide specialized reading support to struggling students, the increase in demand is straining already limited resources, especially as federal funding for reading intervention falls short.
