Inspired by Mississippi, more states are holding back third graders who struggle to read. But a new research paper shows that this policy can have harmful long-run consequences for those students.

Laura Taylor is an associate professor of educational studies and Laura Kelly is an assistant professor of educational studies at Rhodes College. After being a hot topic during last spring’s ...

A third grade reading and retention law took effect for Tennessee public school children in 2023. Students must meet a state reading benchmark or take extra steps to avoid being held back. Three full ...

Tens of thousands of students across Tennessee are awaiting the results of their standardized tests, which will set off a fast-moving timeline to determine whether they're held back under a ...

The Alabama Board of Education is set to raise expectations for third graders by gradually increasing a benchmark on the state’s high-stakes reading test. Currently, educators decide whether or not a ...

The latest results of Mississippi’s third-grade reading test show no dramatic declines in student performance. But they show no significant gains, either. Since 2021-22, the first year of student data ...