February 23rd, 2021 by WCBC Radio

A proposal in the Maryland House would make it possible for parents concerned about learning loss resulting from the coronoavirus pandemic to hold their children back a grade.

The bill introduced by Del. Mike Griffith would allow students to repeat the grade they took in the 2020-2021 school year.

The Education Recovery Act would apply to those students who have been struggling with virtual learning and those with special learning needs and considered the most vulnerable. 

Griffith said those students who are aging out have no recourse or creative path to try and recapture nearly a year without in-person instruction. Under the bill, at-risk students who are meeting graduation requirements, aging out or at any grade level would not be punished for simply getting too old or losing an entire year through no fault of their own.

Students would instead have the option of repeating their grades.