No? We shouldn't hold back 3rd graders who don't pass the 3rd grade reading MEAP? What, pray tell are grades and exams for if you think not? Just keep moving them forward until very quickly they are in deep water and can't swim and will never swim? Reading IS fundamental. There should also be consequences for teachers whose students can't read and schools whose teachers can't teach students to read. Flunk them. Fire them. Close them down.   