Third-Graders Improve On State Reading Exam

Columbus City Schools reported Monday preliminary results show 74 percent of its third-graders scored high enough on the state reading exam to be promoted to fourth grade. It's a significant improvement from last fall’s scores. Columbus City School officials credit the progress to a community effort to help the district’s third graders improve their reading skills. Last fall, nearly 60 percent of the school district’s third graders failed the state reading exam. While a majority of third-graders made the cut after re-testing, about 1,000 students could be held back. They have two more opportunities to re-take the test. Parents can still enroll their child in summer school to help prepare for it. In 2012, Governor John Kasich signed legislation to require all third-graders to achieve the benchmark to advance to fourth grade.