NM Senate Panel Rejects Social Promotion Bill

ALBQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — 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 (http://bit.ly/ZBmkSK ) 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.