What can be done right now?
Instruction:
The original impetus for this law was concern over the reading skills of young people. That is an admirable goal. A brand-new toolkit is now available online with a wealth of research-based information compiled by leading reading researchers. Please visit the site: http://literacyessentials.org/
School-level Assessment:
The cornerstone of the retention law is assessment. Although the state has mandated testing three times per years for students in K-2 to identify struggling readers, it is up to individual districts to choose from a list of approved assessments to gather this essential data. However, not all assessments are created equal. From a logistical standpoint, assessments vary widely in their cost and time to administer. From a measurement standpoint, not all tests are equally well-constructed. To help guide districts in making decisions about which assessment(s) to choose, our campaign has compiled this spreadsheet: https://tinyurl.com/MIguidance. The first sheet is a summary of basic logistical information for each of the assessments approved by the state. The second sheet is an analysis of those assessments conducted by the Center on Response to Intervention at the American Institutes for Research. This information will hopefully make it easier for districts to make informed choices before signing expensive contracts with assessment providers.
It is worth keeping in mind that assessment is an ongoing process. Identifying struggling readers as early as possible and putting interventions in place is essential long before students reach the gatekeeper tests at the end of third grade. To that end, both the Michigan Department of Education (https://tinyurl.com/MIsystem) and Achieve, Inc. (https://www.achieve.org/assessmentinventory) have put together resources to help schools develop effective assessment systems that will work together to identify students in need of extra help. After all, assessment at its best is a tool for learning, not a tool for punishing students.
State-wide Assessment:
The key gatekeeping exam is the third-grade M-STEP. Before placing faith in this exam as a reliable measure of student performance, take a look at what students are being asked to do. Most schools administer this assessment online. The layout and navigation for the exam can be confusing, even for an adult proficient with computers. Please visit https://wbte.drcedirect.com/MI/portals/mi/ and take the practice third-grade exam. If you find yourself confused, you may be dismayed to find the paper-and-pencil version just as confusing. You can find a copy at https://tinyurl.com/MI3rdtest. As you can see for yourself, these “assessments” are not only about reading skills. A proficient reader may score poorly simply because the test layouts are confusing. Please contact the Michigan Department of Education with your concerns. If we are going to place such high stakes on one exam, should it not be the highest quality exam possible?
How can I put an end to this unjust law?
The good news is that there is still time to prevent this disaster. Although MCL 380 is now in effect, not a single child has yet been retained. However, unless we act quickly, this will soon change!
Nine states, including Colorado and Oklahoma, have third-grade reading laws nearly identical to Michigan’s. The crucial difference in those states is that retention is mentioned as a possibility, to be discussed between the family and the teacher, and is not mandated. That simple change would make a tremendous impact.
Mandatory retention punishes third graders for nothing more than struggling with reading. Rather than having thousands of students repeat a grade, the money would be better spent on reading interventionists, coaching, and teacher professional development. If you agree, please call or email your local representatives and let them know what you think. Let them know that you support Senate Bill 199: a proposed amendment to the "Read by Grade Three" law that would remove mandatory retention. Send a strong message to Lansing that they have not safeguarded the young people of Michigan and we want a change. Make your voice heard!
ACTION FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR:
The Michigan Legislature has refused to hold a hearing on any bill to amend the retention portion of the reading law.
With the retention law still in place, the surest way to send a signal is to REFUSE M-STEP. No score, no retention!