Tag: literacy

Birmingham Mounts Full Court Press to Get Third Graders Up to Reading Level

Birmingham City officials are beginning a full court press to get all third graders reading on grade level or proficiency by the end of the year. “This is it everybody,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin in an interview last week. “The test is less than 90 days away, and every third grader in the state of Alabama, including the 1,300-plus third graders in Birmingham City Schools will take this test.” Read more.

Get Your Children to School, Woodfin Tells Parents

Mayor Randall Woodfin said Tuesday that Birmingham schools have unusually large numbers of truant students and, if he has to, he’ll push for parents to be held legally accountable for allowing their children to stay home from school.

Ten weeks into the school year, well more than half of third graders are considered truants, which means they have seven or more unexcused absences, Woodfin said.

“It’s unacceptable,” the mayor said.

“Teachers cannot teach your child if they are not in class.” Read more.

Reading Proficiency, Third Grade Holdback Bill Approved in House Committee

A bill approved Wednesday by a House committee would provide resources to get more Alabama third graders reading proficiently and requires that those who aren’t be held back.

Bill sponsor Rep. Terri Collins, R- Decatur, said during a public hearing: “I’ve read estimates that only 35% of our children are reading proficiently, that is 65% that are not. So I hope that shows the urgency of which we need to deal with this issue.”

The state Department of Education estimates it would cost about $90 million annually to implement the proposal, according to a fiscal note on the bill. Read more.