February 7, 2022 Group Watch: Gov and Lawmaker Seeking to Delay AL Literacy Act One Year
The legislature passed the Literacy Act in 2019 as part of an effort to improve the reading proficiency of Alabama students, who rank low on national tests. A key provision of the law is that third graders must show they are reading on grade level to be promoted to fourth grade. The retention requirement will apply for the first time to this year’s class of third graders. Rep. Terri Collins of Decatur who sponsored the original legislation has introduced a bill that would delay the implementation until the 2022-23 school year. Since last year, legislators have debated whether to delay the requirement because of disruptions to school caused by the pandemic. In November, Governor Ivey determined a delay was needed and urged lawmakers to approve a one-year delay. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey warned that some schools have more than half their third-grade students at risk of retention.
