HCS HB 50 -- PROMOTION OF STUDENTS

SPONSOR:  Franklin (Relford)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Education-Elementary and Secondary by a vote of 13 to 3.

This substitute completely revises a section that currently
prohibits promoting a student if the student's reading ability
is more than a grade level lower than the student's grade
level.  The substitute clarifies that reading assessment methods
will be determined by each school district, which will give an
assessment to any third-grade student or any student who
transfers into a district in grades 4, 5, or 6 who has not been
determined to be reading at grade level during the current
school year.  The substitute exempts students receiving special
education, students with limited English proficiency, and
certain students receiving services under the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973.  With the 2002-2003 school year, each student whose
third-grade assessment shows the student reading below second--
grade level will be provided with a reading improvement plan to
contain a minimum of 30 hours of additional reading instruction
during the fourth-grade year.  The students will be assessed
again near the end of fourth grade and, if necessary, provided
with a plan for the fifth-grade year.  If a student reaches the
end of sixth grade still reading more than one grade level low,
the district will note on the student's record that the student
has not met the reading standards.

School districts are required to offer summer school reading
instruction to students with reading improvement plans and may
fulfill this obligation through cooperative arrangements with
neighboring districts.  Districts may adopt policies that
require retention of students who do not attend required summer
school; however, each district may retain any student in
accordance with its own policies when retention is in the best
interest of the student.

The substitute also defines key terms, prohibits the Department
of Elementary and Secondary Education from using information
about the number of students receiving reading improvement
instruction in accreditation matters, and requires districts to
make an effort to inform parents about their methods and
materials for teaching reading.

The substitute contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue Fund of
Greater than $100,000 in FY 2002, FY 2003, and FY 2004.
Estimated Net Effect on State School Moneys Fund of $0 in FY
2002, FY 2003, and FY 2004.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will restore a measure
of local control while maintaining a high standard as districts
develop strategies to prevent social promotion.  The key element
of the bill is that it requires remediation for students who are
not achieving the required reading level; research shows that
remediation is more effective than retention.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Relford; Kristin
Denbow and Sandra Haight (members of the Missouri Association of
Elementary School Principals); Charles Cudney, superintendent of
Monett School District; Missouri Council of School
Administrators; Missouri School Boards Association; Missouri
State Teachers Association; Missouri NEA; Missouri Federation of
Teachers; and Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that schools need to
keep the higher standard that is currently in state law.

Testifying against the bill was Representative Holand.

Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:42 am