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Social Promotion Bill Tabled By Senate Panel

Legislation that would end social promotion in New Mexico schools has been derailed by a Senate committee.

The bill was among Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's top initiatives. She had wanted schools to hold back third-graders who can't read proficiently and provide them with intensive remediation.

Martinez contends that advancing kids with reading problems to the next grade increases the risk they'll struggle in school later and drop out.

Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, a Democrat, has said student retention should be based on teachers' assessments, not reading test scores.

The Senate Public Affairs Committee voted 4-1 Wednesday to table the bill.

House Majority Leader Nate Gentry says the move amounts to politics.

A GOP attempt earlier this week to get the measure debated on the Senate floor failed.

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