Arkansas Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva pushed back Tuesday on fears that the state could hold back potentially thousands of third graders who aren't reading at grade level at the end of this school year, saying "a lot of factors" will be used to determine whether such students should be promoted.

Instead, Oliva emphasized to the state Senate and House committees on education the efforts his agency is undertaking to ensure third grade students receive needed interventions early enough in the school year to meet new requirements that they score a level 2 or higher on the end-of-year Arkansas Teaching and Learning Assessment System test.

Act 237 of 2023, known as the LEARNS Act, mandated that the Education Department update its requirements for third grade promotion, with th

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