2015 House Bill 4822 / 2016 Public Act 306

Ban “social promotions” for third graders who can’t read

Introduced in the House

Aug. 18, 2015

Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R-89)

To prohibit “social promotions” of third graders who have not reached minimum reading proficiency benchmarks specified in the bill.

Referred to the Committee on Education

Sept. 24, 2015

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-5) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Oct. 15, 2015

Amendment offered by Rep. Gary Glenn (R-98)

To tweak the "interventions" the bill requires before a still-illiterate third grader may be held back by specifying that they be "systematic, explicit, multisensory and sequential".

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Andy Schor (D-68)

To clarify a provision that requires the parents to be notified if child is "not enrolled in fourth grade" due to the bill's requirements.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Kristy Pagan (D-21)

To narrow the scope of the bill to school districts that get money from and meet the conditions of an existing reading intervention program.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Kristy Pagan (D-21)

To require a still-illiterate third grader's parents to agree that in writing that the benefits of not advancing to fourth grade exceed the potential negative consequences, or else the child would be advanced.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Kristy Pagan (D-21)

To not hold back still-illiterate third graders from advancing to fourth grade, but do require them to remain in third grade reading classes.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Winnie Brinks (D-76)

To move back implementation to the 2018-2019 school year (the final House version moves it back to 2019-2020).

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Adam Zemke (D-55)

To authorize lawsuits against school districts in which there are third graders who have not learned how to read, forcing them to spend more to teach them.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Adam Zemke (D-55)

To require schools in which still-illiterate third graders were held back to post specified details on their website (not including student names though).

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-53)

To add $23.9 million to the state budget to pay for more teacher training, more "screening and diagnostic tools," more ISD "literacy coaches" and more money to school districts.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Kathy Crawford (R-38)

To require the state to finish grading statewide third grade reading tests by June 1 each year.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Daniela Garcia (R-90)

To expand an exemption for some students to the proposed policy.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Klint Kesto (R-39)

To change the standard that third graders must meet to advance to fourth from "mastery" to "competence" in reading.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Dave Pagel (R-78)

To move the proposed policy back to the 2019-2020 school year.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Martin Howrylak (R-41)

To change a provision that "encourages" school districts to provide extra support to students who are not native English speakers, so it also applies to Hindi and Korean speakers, in addition to Spanish, Chinese or Arabic.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 57 to 48 (details)

To prohibit “social promotions” of third graders who have not reached minimum reading benchmarks, subject to many conditions and exceptions, and with requirements that additional "intervention" programs be created (including summer school) and individual tutoring provided before a student is actually held back. This would not take effect until the 2019-2020 school year.

Received in the Senate

Oct. 20, 2015

Referred to the Committee on Education

March 23, 2016

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-6) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Amendment offered

To revise details of the procedures and definitions the bill would institute.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 31 to 6 (details)

To prohibit “social promotions” of third graders who have not reached minimum reading benchmarks, subject to many conditions and exceptions, and with requirements that additional "intervention" programs be created and individual tutoring provided before a student is actually held back. This would not take effect until the 2019-2020 school year.

Received in the House

March 23, 2016

March 24, 2016

Failed in the House 49 to 59 (details)

To concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill.

Sept. 20, 2016

Received

Sept. 21, 2016

Passed in the House 60 to 47 (details)

To prohibit “social promotions” of third graders who have not reached minimum reading benchmarks, subject to many conditions and exceptions, and with requirements that additional intervention programs be created and individual tutoring provided before a student is actually held back. This would not take effect until the 2019-2020 school year. This final version of the bill removes a Senate provision to let teachers and principals provide exceptions, and allows a school district superintendent to do so only if the student is proficient in other subjects.

Received in the Senate

Sept. 21, 2016

Passed in the Senate 25 to 10 (details)

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill.

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

Oct. 6, 2016