According to the Lansing State Journal, a controversial reading law takes effect this school year, and Michigan State University researchers say it could lead to thousands of students having to repeat third grade.

That is, if parents and administrators don't find a way to push the child through to fourth grade.

Michigan's Read by Third Grade law, approved in 2016, requires schools to identify students struggling to read through school issued tests, then give those students individual reading improvement plans.

An MSU study shows thousands of third graders could repeat under the law.

MSU Education Policy Innovation Collaborative researchers analyzed last year's M-STEP scores, finding that 2,000 to 5,000 students statewide did not score proficient in the English and language arts section and would be recommended for retention under the new law.

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