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Ohio Senate Favors Delaying Reading Standard

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A voluminous education bill that the governor has criticized for lowering state reading standards has cleared the Ohio Senate.

 
The legislation passed on a 30-2 vote despite warnings from Republican Gov. John Kasich that senators should not have removed a requirement that third graders be held back if they test below their reading level.
 
The Senate Education Committee delayed the effective date of the tougher remediation standard to the 2013-14 school year. Supporters said holding children back who haven't benefited from intervention would damage their self-esteem and hurt their ability to improve.
 
Senate President Tom Niehaus said the bill remains in line with lawmakers' efforts to improve education.
 
The bill contains dozens of other education-related changes from Kasich's midterm budget proposal. It goes next to the Ohio House.