A new law takes effect in Ohio this school year that requires third graders to do better in reading and language arts.


While that sounds like a good goal to set, NEWS9 has found out it could be draining funding from a struggling local school district.


It's called the third-grade reading guarantee, and was signed this summer by Gov. John Kasich.


"They are asking us to assess kids early in kindergarten and first grade to determine if a child is struggling. If they are, we need to provide intervention as quickly as possible," Indian Creek Superintendent John Rocchi said.


The focus is on reading and language arts. With the new legislation going into effect this school year, teachers are getting extensive professional development training and will be using technology to help in the classrooms.


According to a New York Times article, a similar bill has been passed in Florida where the number of third graders held back almost quadrupled. Rocchi said he does not want that to happen here.


"It costs about $10,000 per student when a student is retained, which impacts the whole process of the education of other kids. When you take $10,000 to educate a kid again, we have to take that money from some other place where it could have been utilized," Rocchi said.


Rocchi added that students can be held back multiple times. One third grade teacher told NEWS9 it certainly is making her job more challenging, but Rocchi said it can be a challenge for the entire district.


"Sometimes when legislation is put into place, it does make it difficult on the district. As all districts around us know, when something is placed into law we have to abide by it."


Rocchi said grants will be set aside from the state in the coming months to help districts fund the guarantee. He says he plans to apply.