Instead of waiting until third grade, which is why we call it the Third Grade Success Act.” Third grade retention policy includes exemptionsThe third grade retention piece of the legislation goes into effect for the 2026-27 school year. West Virginia lawmakers modeled the Third Grade Success Act after Mississippi’s reading reform efforts, where a 2013 law helped Mississippi climb from 49th to 21st in national education progress scores. West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence.