OH HB497

Eliminates mandatory retention for students in third grade based on reading assessment scores beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, replacing it with continued intervention and remediation services.

Requires school districts to administer the third-grade English language arts assessment only once annually (starting 2021-2022), down from twice annually previously.

Mandates districts continue to identify students reading below grade level and provide intensive reading instruction and intervention services rather than retaining students.

Modifies the Third Grade Reading Guarantee to focus on providing research-based reading remediation, diagnostic assessments, and reading improvement monitoring plans for struggling readers.

Eliminates retention provisions in section 3313.608 while maintaining related provisions for notification to parents, intervention services, and teacher qualifications for reading instruction.