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Bill

SB 239

TO REQUIRE A REPORT CARD TO INCLUDE A STUDENT'S CURRENT READING GRADE LEVEL.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tyler Dees and 3 co-sponsors

Arkansas bill requiring schools to display students' reading grade levels on report cards to improve transparency around early literacy, died in Senate committee in 2025.

Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
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Bill Summary · SB 239

Legislative bill overview

SB 239 would require Arkansas schools to include students' current reading grade level on their report cards. The bill mandates transparency about reading proficiency by making this metric visible to parents and guardians alongside traditional grades.

Why is this important

Reading proficiency is a critical early indicator of academic success and a documented gap area in many states. Making reading levels explicit on report cards could help parents identify struggling readers earlier and prompt intervention discussions with teachers. However, the bill died in committee during the 2025 legislative session without final passage.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation burden: Schools must develop or adopt systems to assess and assign reading grade levels, which requires resources and staff training beyond current practices
  • Defining "grade level": Disagreement over which assessment tools measure reading levels, potentially creating inconsistency across districts or appearing to favor certain curricula
  • Parental interpretation: Parents may misunderstand technical reading level metrics, potentially creating confusion or unwarranted alarm if a child's reading level doesn't align with their overall grade

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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