Third grade reading standards increase in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Third graders statewide can expect a new standard for reading levels this school year. The State Board of Education approved a resolution Thursday. In order to move on to the fourth grade, students must score a 444 on their reading test at the end of the year.

“We’re saying we’re just gonna slightly move that scale up and really raise the bar,” said State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey. “But at the same time, not raise it too fast or too far so that we leave students behind.”

That bar is being raised by nine points. Previously, third graders had to score a 435 or higher. As CBS 42 has reported, data from earlier this year shows that 91% of third graders in the state achieved this score the first time.

The Alabama Literacy Act requires students to show sufficient reading skills in order to move forward. “What parents should know– mostly if they’ve got children in the second grade, or if they’ve got children in this year’s third grade– what they need to do is just focus on those reading skills,” explained Dr. Mackey.

But some opposed the resolution.

“We’ve got to keep moving it forward,” said Jackie Ziegler (R-Mobile), who sits on the board. “Because the ones who benefit are going to be our students. Therefore, I’m going to have to vote no against this particular cut score.”

Ziegler said constituents told her the new standard doesn’t go far enough. “We’re doing all the intervention– we’re doing the after school, we’re doing before school, we’re doing summer– I think that the kids are going to be moving us so fast forward that we don’t need to be holding back,” she said.

Dr. Mackey explained that after going through summer intervention, only 6.5% of third graders tested below grade level. “We know that, with this new score, 444, that number would’ve been higher. But at the same time, because of the things we’re doing to get students ready, we feel very confident.”

The approved resolution raises the cut score again by ten points in the 2026-2027 school year.

Board member Wayne Reynolds said that ultimately, this is where the state needs to be.

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