Michigan Passes A New Reading Requirement for Third Graders
Under a new law, if Michigan third graders cannot read on their own, they will be held back
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Host Stephen Henderson talks with Jennifer Lewis, Assistant Professor in the Division of Teacher Education at Wayne State University, about the new reading requirement for Michigan’s third graders.
Performance: Lewis says that while many different education researchers are in disagreement, “this is one of the few area where there is a consensus. Ninety-five percent of children who are held back do not perform better academically.”
Dropouts: Lewis also says that the dropout rate in high school are affected by this number. “Seventy-eight percent of dropouts from high school were children who were [held back] earlier,” Lewis says.
Reading: One caller suggested that teaching appreciation and love for reading could help improve this number. “A love of reading really cannot be taught. A love for reading needs to be nurtured.” the caller says.
To hear more of Stephen’s conversation, click the link above.