MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An estimated 1,800 Alabama students will repeat third grade because of low reading scores under a new state promotion requirement, the education superintendent said Thursday.

The high-stakes requirement of the 2019 Alabama Literacy Act, which mandates that third graders meet reading benchmarks to move to fourth grade, is taking effect this year. State lawmakers delayed implementation until this year to give students and schools time to recover from pandemic-related learning losses. The requirement only applies to students in public schools.

“We hope the reading benchmarks from the Literacy Act will lead to better educational outcomes for students in the long term,” Garner Ezell, executive director of curriculum and instruction for Athens City Schools, told The News Courier. “Since the law was passed, we’ve been preparing our students and teachers for this moment. We’ve trained over 80 elementary teachers in the science of reading and offered summer reading camps, after-school tutoring, and extra support during the school day. Our focus has always been on giving our students the best chance to succeed, and we’re confident that these efforts have made a real difference.”

State superintendent Eric Mackey Thursday gave a presentation to state school board members about the number of students facing retention. An estimated 1,832 third graders will be held back and repeat third grade. Mackey said the numbers are preliminary. Schools will report their final numbers next month.

Mackey said if students must be held back that it is better to do it in the earlier grades.

“The later students are retained, the worse the social outcome. Third grade is not considered the beginning. It’s kind of the last effort,” Mackey said.

The 2019 law requires third graders to make a minimum score on the state’s standardized reading assessment or otherwise demonstrate mastery of third grade state reading standards through a portfolio. Students can also be promoted to fourth grade for a “good cause” exemption under the law.

Significantly fewer students are being retained than initially feared.

Standardized test scores from the spring showed that 4,808 students were not meeting the required score. The students were given the opportunity to attend summer reading camps and take the test a second time.

“Our principals and teachers have worked hard to support our third graders in meeting the new reading benchmarks,” Ezell said. “I’m happy to say that nearly all of our students have successfully moved on to the fourth grade. We’re committed to doing everything we can to help our students succeed, and we’re really proud of the progress they made.”

Reporter Justin Travis contributed to this story.