A RESEARCH REPORT FROM EPIC

2022 Preliminary Read by Grade Three Retention Estimates

Prepared for Michigan Department of Education

September 2022

The Read by Grade Three Law aims to improve early literacy outcomes for students across the state through improved instruction, implementation of early monitoring and identification systems, required interventions for students identified as having a “reading deficiency” under the Law, and a requirement that districts retain students who do not meet a state standard for reading proficiency by the end of the 3rd grade.

In this report, we describe the proportion of students eligible for retention under the Read by Grade Three Law based on their scores on the 2021-22 3rd-grade M-STEP ELA assessment and estimate the proportion of Michigan public school students who could be retained. We have computed statewide retention-eligibility rates as well as retention-eligibility rates for subgroups of tested students by select student demographics, school and district types, and geographic locales. Because districts may still promote retention-eligible students to 4th grade if they receive a good cause exemption, we also provide estimated retention rates that consider student characteristics related to good cause exemptions.