2026-27 MOWR

According to the Arizona Revised Statutes §15-701, a 3rd grade student who fails to meet the Move On When Reading (MOWR) cut score on the Reading portion of the statewide exam will not be promoted to the 4th grade.

The purpose of this law is early identification of struggling readers so that they receive targeted interventions designed to have them reading at grade level by or before the end of 3rd grade.

The legislation is designed to equip schools and teachers to provide students with the specific assistance they need to become lifelong readers.

There are four good cause exemptions to retention for 3rd-grade students who fail to meet the MOWR cut score. These apply if a student:

(i) Is an English learner or a limited English proficient student as defined in section 15-751 and has had fewer than THREE (amended by HB2026) years of English language instruction.

(ii) Is in the (1) process of a special education referral or evaluation for placement in special education, or (2) has been diagnosed with a significant reading impairment, including dyslexia, or (3) is a child with a disability as defined in section 15-761 and the IEP team agrees promotion is appropriate.

(iii) Demonstrates sufficient reading skills or adequate progress toward sufficient reading skills of the 3rd-grade reading standards through a collection of reading assessments.

(iv) Receives intervention and remedial services during the summer or subsequent year and demonstrates sufficient reading progress.