One school I talked to actually said they deliberately keep kids down. After all the content of a Level Z book would be too "mature" for a second grade kid. I was speechless. Surely there are books out there that are the right level that are "appropriate" in content?
I don't think DS has been tested at all since last Sept./Oct. He was at a Level O last year at this time, then he went down to a Level L. Now he's probably still at a Level L. Talk about bringing a kid down. He does Raz-Kids at home online (the teacher can't hold him back there--once he passes a level it automatically moves the kid on) and he is currently in Level Q and whips right through all the books and quizzes. He loves it and asks to do it most days. So I figure at least my DS is getting some reading instruction at home if not in school.
