By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Warsaw community Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert is not a big fan of legislation that could force some students to be held back if they don’t meet a reading proficiency requirement.
The new reading law seeks to remedy Indiana’s literacy “crisis” by requiring schools to administer the statewide IREAD test in second grade — a year earlier than current requirements
But if, after three tries, a third grader can’t meet the IREAD standard, legislators want school districts to hold them back a year.
Hoffert said such discussions need to happen much earlier and said holding a student back in the third grade can have unintended consequences in part because of the social impact of being held back
“We have some concerns, definitely, when you’re retaining at third grade, that’s a little bit late. We want to make sure we’re intervening earlier than that, really at the kindergarten and first grade levels,” Hoffert said.
Hoffert made the comments during a taping of In the Know, the public affairs show you can hear this weekend on Kensington Digital Media radio stations.
He said he’s taking a wait-and-see approach about state-wide changes that are set to take effect after another year.
“Hopefully, this is not pulling the carpet out from underneath anybody,” Hoffert said. “Hopefully, we can have these conversations very much earlier.”
In The Know can be heard at the following times:
News Now Warsaw (99.7 FM and 1480 AM):
Fridays at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Saturdays at 7 a.m.
Sundays at 7 a.m. & 2 p.m.
WRSW (107.3):
Sundays at 6 a.m.
Willie (103.5 FM):
Sundays at 6 a.m.
