MN HF3709

Schools must not promote students to grade 4 beginning in the 2015-2016 school year if they cannot demonstrate grade-level reading proficiency on statewide or locally determined reading assessments by the end of grade 3.

Five categories of students qualify for good cause exceptions allowing promotion to grade 4 despite not meeting reading proficiency standards: limited English-proficient students with less than two years of English language learner instruction, students with disabilities whose IEPs indicate statewide assessment is inappropriate, students demonstrating proficiency on alternative assessments or teacher portfolios, students with disabilities who received intensive remediation for two-plus years and were previously retained, and students who received intensive reading instruction for two-plus years and were previously retained for two total years.

Parents of non-proficient students without good cause exceptions may request a meeting with school administrators, classroom teachers, and reading specialists to discuss promotion or retention before the end of the school year.

If the parent objects to retention after the meeting, the parent must sign a form acknowledging understanding of educational risks, and the school must promote the student to grade 4.

The provision takes effect the day following final enactment and applies to students entering grade 3 in the 2015-2016 school year and later.