August 2024 Group Watch: 1,800 AL Students Miss AL Literacy Act Benchmarks
In 2019, the Alabama Legislature passed the Literacy Act, which requires students to meet specific reading-related goals before advancing to the next grade. The enforcement of this bill was delayed until this year due to COVID-19. As a result of the law’s implementation, more than 1,800 Alabama students are repeating third grade this school year after failing to meet the required benchmarks. However, under the “good cause” provision of the act, some students may still be promoted to fourth grade. Standardized test scores from the spring indicated that 4,808 students did not meet the required score. These students were offered the opportunity to attend summer reading camps and retake the test. The final numbers are expected to be available by mid-September.
