Teachers And State Education Department Continue To Address Student Literacy Crisis
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The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
Educators continue to push through the student learning struggles worsened by the response to COVID-19. Virtual learning – and the lack of in-class instruction – caused many students to fall behind, specifically in the area of literacy.
According to 2021 standardized testing in Tennessee, less than one third of students across the state are proficient in reading.
School systems are acknowledging the current learning deficits and are seeking out ways to bridge the gap.
Traci Blackburn, literacy coordinator in Bradley County, says that schools simply need more resources to be able to meet the needs of those struggling students.
“We know that if students aren’t reading at grade level by the time they are finished with third grade it’s very difficult to have any catch up growth at that point,” Blackburn stated.
Information released by the state department shows that children who are reading on grade level are much more likely to finish high school, go on to complete a post-secondary program, and find gainful employment as adults. Failure to read on grade level is associated with higher poverty rates, preteen drug and alcohol abuse, depression, and teen pregnancy.
In response, the State Department of Education recently announced the start of a new literacy initiative called Reading 360. In January, they announced a $100 million investment in the program.
The initiative aims to supply school districts with additional reading resources, as well as grant money to help fund phonics-based programs to help improve basic reading skills. Supports are also provided to help parents, such as the “Ready4K” text-messaging program that sends daily learning tips to parents of students in grades pre-K though 3.
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Many educators feel that standardized testing does not provide an accurate depiction of what students actually know.
“It’s difficult to assess a student at one day and one point in the year so we always like to have different data points and collect different data on students to get a big picture,” said Blackburn.
Mario Grant, a reading teacher at Memphis Business Academy, believes that the Reading 360 Initiative is a good start to finding a way to get students back on track.
“The work ahead is challenging given that most students missed many months of in-person instruction due to the pandemic. Nevertheless, these additional early literacy tools – everything from curricula and assessments to the online resources being provided by TDOE – indicates an ongoing commitment to finding a solution that works,” Grant said.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
If schools keep closing every time we get a rain storm or snow there will be no one in this state that can read. As it is most people can’t read past a 4th grade level. People really need to think about home schooling their children. Give them a better education then this communist indoctrination centers called public schools
This should not happen with all the Teachers and Aids in the class room. Another reason is Teacher Unions just about Impossible to fire a worthless /Tenured teacher? A good dose of discipline and order in the classroom without the Schools and teachers afraid of the students and Law suits!