If you make a loud enough stink......even politicians listen.

Governor Mary Fallin vetoed a bill allowing a student who fails the state third grade reading test to still be promoted if a team of parents and educators approve. But after parents objected about the high-stakes testing their voices were heard and the state legislature voted to override the veto with a vote of 79-17 in the House and 45-2 in the Senate.

The legislative action means the bill immediately becomes law, directly affecting nearly 8,000 Oklahoma students who scored “unsatisfactory” on the test.  Of those 8,000 students more than half were students who have IEP's.

Our State Superintendent of Education, Janet Barresi (whose background is dentistry, not education) was not a happy camper. “Today’s action is a pathetic and outrageous step back and returns us to a failed system of social promotion that has served the education establishment and little else.”

State Rep. Katie Henke, R-Tulsa, who authored House Bill 2625 to relax the reading standard, said her legislation “empowers parents and educators to make individualized decisions for Oklahoma students.”

State Rep. Jadine Nollan, R-Sand Springs, said the new law helps teachers and parents who are trying to teach young people to read.  “Children develop at different levels, so I just think having some flexibility allows us to see how to best serve those students, and so this gives us a chance to do that,” she said.

FINALLY.....someone listened.... 

My daughter, who has a learning disability,  graduated from East Central University in Oklahoma and has been a teacher for the past 15 years  but would still be in the 3rd grade if such a ludicrous  requirement had existed when she was in public school.

Janet, I'd get my dental tools warmed up because I don't think you are going to be re-elected.  Mary.....you may be going with her.