Why do legislators even NEED to address this issue? Aren’t illiterate kids ALREADY held back?!??!
Absolutely not! Illiterate 'kids' are given high school diplomas these days just because they showed up to school enough days. They can't read or do even simple math, they know nothing at all about science or physics and they still get a high school diploma.... But they can slam dunk a basketball.
Unfortunately, they are not. I am trying to teach science to high school juniors and seniors. Many of them have appalling reading, writing and math skills. Between lack of academic skills and poor work ethic, it's often a struggle.