A New Mexico legislator says she'll try again next year now that a state Senate committee has rejected a bill to end promotion of third-graders whose reading ability isn't adequate.
The Senate Education Committee rejected the so-called "social promotion" bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Gay Kernan of Hobbs on a 5-4 party-line vote following a nearly four-hour hearing Saturday.
The legislation is a priority of Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, but it's been repeatedly rejected by the Democratic-led Legislature.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Senate Democrats are focusing on alternative plans that focus on teaching intervention programs for underperforming students.
A House committee rejected a version of the bill last week.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.