Some 1.5 million students attend some 3,000 public schools in Michigan. As academic performance has lagged, competing school reform proposals have sprouted like Michigan summer corn.
Michigan third-grade reading
Posted inTalent & Education
In state with low reading scores, a West Michigan effort shows promise
Many of today’s kindergarteners may eventually have to repeat third grade if their reading skills fall short. In West Michigan, 100 school districts have joined forces to boost early reading. The goal: to pass every student to fourth grade.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Vulnerable kids can’t improve reading if their parents can’t help
A new law that will hold back students who can’t read by third grade is intended to boost early reading skills so that retention is not necessary. For this to work, state must take steps to help low-education parents help their children at home
Posted inTalent & Education
How many Michigan third-graders should flunk?
Legislators agree that struggling young readers need more help. But what should we do with kids who still can’t read
Posted inTalent & Education
How one West Michigan school district is closing reading gaps for poor, Hispanic students
Through focused early literacy efforts, the West Ottawa School District is taking children with little to no English-language skills and preparing them to compete with white, more affluent peers.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Improving third-grade reading isn’t enough
Programs that help parents improve their early learning for their children, particularly children with developmental delays or disabilities, are critical.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Vital early reading skills deserve critical policy focus
“Read or flunk” laws don’t work, but there are other ideas and programs that can have children reading at grade level at the critical juncture of third-fourth grade.
Posted inPhil's Column
Third-grade reading improvement and other fixes for Michigan classrooms
The Michigan Legislature needs to get moving by passing critical reforms that will reverse the state’s declining performance
Posted inTalent & Education
Third graders must have solid reading foundation to succeed later
Gary Naeyaert is executive director of the Great Lakes Education Project a nonprofit that advocates for quality school choice in Michigan. We’re having a vigorous debate in Michigan about how to address the fact that nearly one-third of our elementary school students are not proficient readers. Given the critical importance of early literacy to […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Smartest kids: In Florida, early reading and frequent testing bring results, and pushback
Emphasis on literacy and testing to monitor progress are credited with a rise in student learning in Florida, particularly for low-income and minority students. But some ask, how much is too much?
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