The following is a letter to the editor that was sent to the Kalamazoo Gazette.
By Gary G. Naeyaert
Early reading proficiency is the most important factor for academic success, since students in grades K-3 are learning to read while fourth-grade students start reading to learn.
The fact that one-third of students cannot read at grade level is a bad sign for Michigan’s future, and that’s why we support the bi-partisan “3rd Grade Reading Guarantee” bills sponsored by Rep. Amanda Price (R-Holland) and Rep. Thomas Stallworth (D-Detroit). These bills, currently on the floor of the House of Representatives, represent a comprehensive approach to early literacy that focuses on screening and interventions for all students in grades K-3, along with potential retention for non-proficient third-grade readers.
The approach in these bills strikes a proper balance between setting a statewide expectation to end social promotion for non-proficient readers and local control – since there are multiple options to avoid retention which are implemented by the district, principal, teacher and parent.
Even though 35 states have a statewide approach to improving early literacy, Michigan’s traditional school lobby is working overtime to stop these bills from becoming law. Are they more interested in preserving the status quo and continuing social promotion than in helping all students succeed?
Unfortunately, Rep. Margaret O’Brien has not yet decided to support these bills to help struggling readers. Please contact her office at 517-373-1774 and urge her to vote ‘yes” on this reasonable bill package.
Gary G. Naeyaert is the executive director of the Great Lakes Education Project in Lansing.
For more Kalamazoo Gazette opinion pieces and letters visit http://www.mlive.com/opinion/kalamazoo/.