Most RI Fourth Graders Not Proficient in Reading
Monday, December 06, 2010
Despite the seemingly low level of proficiency, Rhode Island ranks relatively high in the nation, coming in 11th among states. The national average is 32 percent. But in New England, it ranks as fifth, behind neighbors Connecticut and Massachusetts, and ahead of only Maine, based on the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress test.
‘A problem that haunts us’
Students who can’t read in elementary school are affected throughout the duration of their time in school, according to Elizabeth Burke Bryant, executive director of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. “This is a problem that haunts us all the way through the student’s journey through the K-12 system and beyond,” Bryant told GoLocalProv.
The KIDS COUNT report zeroes in on the fourth grade reading scores because that is the pivotal year that could affect students much further down the road—ultimately having an impact on high school graduation rates, performance in college, and the educational level of the workforce, according to Bryant.
“Up until that year, children are learning to read and after that grade they’re reading to learn,” Bryant told GoLocalProv. “With each passing year after that it becomes that much more expensive to intervene and catch these kids up.”
Some solutions
KIDS COUNT will make two key recommendations today in a policy briefing with state educators, lawmakers, advocates, and community leaders. It first will recommend closing the gap between children who enter kindergarten already knowing their ABCs and being familiar with books and those that come in with a blank slate. “It’s basically like you’re starting the race from behind,” Bryant said.
KIDS COUNT is calling for an investment in a wide range of pre-kindergarten programs that could even the playing field. Those include pre-school, Head Start, Early Head Start, health and developmental screening services, and parenting programs.
Once a child enters elementary school, KIDS COUNT says the state needs to identify those who are falling behind in reading—before they hit that crucial fourth grade threshold. KIDS COUNT called for the state to take action to ensure that teachers are prepared to identify students who are falling behind using other assessments besides the NAEP.
A sense of urgency
Byrant said two areas to focus on are students who forget much of what they learn during the summer and chronic absences—students who miss 18 days or more. (At 18 days, they’ve lost out on 10 percent of the state-mandated number of school days.)
The state has regulations that achieve some of this, but the new report aims to convey a sense of urgency—and a call on educators and administrators to redouble their efforts. “There’s an urgency of increasing the percentage of Rhode Island children who are reading proficiently, Bryant said.
Photo courtesy of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT
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Comments:
Mike Hamel
12:45pm on Monday, December 06, 2010
How about calling the parents, into school and asking if they read to their kids at home, or do they just let them go into mindless cyberspace on a computer?
One hour on a computer equals one our with your face in a book. That was the rules for a lot of kids I know. It worked out well. they are not only proficient readers they are equally as good with computers.
One DOES NOT have to suffer for the other.
Gary Arnold
12:10am on Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Why does it take a study for our educators to see the failing of teachers. 4th grade is pivotal, yes, is this a surprise, I can not understand our educational system letting kids proceed while failing. Is this a problem with our Unionized teacher system, I say it is.
The teachers union only cares about contracts not quality of teaching. Fire the Union, get qualified teachers, move our students to the top of the list.