No child left behind is the theory today. They pass them even though they can't read or write. There are special federal & state programs that can test these kids with the parents permission. Sometimes they have learning disabilities & need one on one experience. Sometimes the parents won't allow them to be tested & think there is nothing wrong when there is something wrong. They feel their child will be labeled if they are put into a special needs program. Maybe the parents are just as frustrated as the teachers & school system are with their child. The teachers spend more time with behavior problems in the classroom so that takes away the time to learn the 3 r's. There are some people that never learn to read my grandmother & a cousin never learned to read. It can be an brain to eye disability. My cousin is very intelligent & hearing things read to him he learns that way & his area of strength is math. He has done very well for himself in life.