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Turning the page to improve child literacy
RELEASE|April 5, 2019

Across the nation, schools, teachers, students and families celebrated March Is Reading Month last month. It’s a great opportunity to recognize all the ways reading nourishes the minds of our young people. But in Michigan, not all students have something to celebrate.

According to the Michigan Department of Education, just 44.4 percent of students can read proficiently by the end of third grade.

Research shows students who do not meet reading standards by third grade are less likely to graduate from high school or attend college. Early literacy is vital for success in all areas of education, in addition to helping students cultivate imaginations and creative minds.

I ran for office because I wanted to help make Michigan better for my children and grandchildren. As a parent, I will not be satisfied until Michigan literacy rates dramatically improve.

In 2016, legislation was signed into law creating a literacy system designed to help students become reading proficient before entering the fourth grade. The system includes regular literacy screenings, one-on-one instruction, increased classroom time dedicated to reading, and greater emphasis on parental involvement.

The plan is certainly a huge step in the right direction, but I believe there’s more that can be done.

We must provide greater support for teachers and provide literacy coaches for struggling students. We should expand teacher mentoring efforts and prioritize funding to explore more innovative ideas for teaching our students.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to tour the Bay City Children’s Dyslexia Center, which aims to help children reach their full potential and put an end to family frustration with dyslexia by providing specialized one-on-one training at no charge. There’s so much we can learn from organizations like these.

Later this month, I have invited my colleagues in the House and Senate to join me on a visit to the Clio Area School District to learn more about its Reading Success Plan. Clio teachers focus on small group and individualized instruction and engage students in activities that build phonological awareness. They are intentional in their efforts to build students’ vocabularies and collaborate with families to promote literacy. I look forward to hearing more from Clio educators about how we can improve reading instruction and funding for literacy initiatives at the state level.

We have a moral and constitutional responsibility to educate Michigan’s young people. I take that responsibility very seriously and am committed to implementing efficient and tactical strategies and techniques to do it right. Every child deserves the chance to succeed. We must do all we can to guide them while they are young.

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