LEAVE PROMOTION RULES TO SCHOOL OFFICIALS

In the final moments of the last session, the Missouri General Assembly passed a bill that school officials say will affect the promotion and retention of students across the state.

The law makes it mandatory to retain -- that, is not promote -- any student who is reading more than one year below grade level.

Those decisions should rest with the local school districts.

There's no doubt that reading ability is the foundation of a good education. But reading is taught over the course of several years. A student who has trouble reading in the third grade may be a far different concern than a student who has those same troubles in the sixth grade.

A state law cannot take into account what's best for each student. That's the beauty of local control where teachers, parents and school officials who know the students can make the best decisions.

It's unfortunate that this legislation was adopted in the hectic final moments of the session with little review or understanding on the part of legislators. As a result, schools across the state must update promotion policies without solid information.

The bill didn't say what test to use to determine what grade level a student is reading. In fact, the bill seems to raise more questions than answers.

Bills have been introduced in the current legislative session to refine and better define this confusing law. The new legislation must clean up some of the confusion facing local school districts.