JACKSON, Miss.--If your child has trouble reading, a new plan that is one step closer to becoming law will give parents and teachers more incentive to work with your child to make sure he can read on a third grade level before he can pass to the fourth grade. The bill passed the Miss. House Monday.

“No other measure that we pass this year will have a greater impact on our educational system than this bill,” said Speaker Phillip Gunn. “This bill will have a more sweeping and immediate impact than any other education reform we pass this year,” continued the Speaker. “I commend the House, both Democrats and Republicans, for having the vision to pass this bill.”

The bill is part of several education reforms being pushed by republicans, whose aim was to make the 2013 legislative session focus more on education than anything else.

Gov. Phil Bryant has pushed the Third Grade Gate bill since last year, saying in his State of the State address that education reform will have a significant impact on the economy of the state. He said if Mississippi is able to provide a competent work force, businesses and industries will be more likely to locate here..