Notes on Oklahoma Literacy Rates
The results of nationwide testing show that students in Oklahoma lag behind students in nearly all of the 50 states when it comes to reading proficiency. Those results represent more than hardship for individual students or a loss of bragging rights for state officials.
According to experts, Oklahoma’s low reading outcomes also translate into a significant, lifelong drain on taxpayer resources and the state economy as students emerge from the K-12 system unprepared for work or college.
A recent report from the Education Consumers Foundation, “The Cost of Failure to Teach Reading: Projections From 3rd Grade Reading Scores,” shows millions of dollars in increased taxpayer expenses are likely to occur in Oklahoma given the many children who do not read proficiently in the state.
“For every student who fails to master reading by grade 3, taxpayers are subjected to what amounts to a hidden annual surtax—one that cumulates with each graduating class,” the report stated. “It is levied in the form of added local, state, and federal tax-funded resources absorbed by the resulting school dropouts and unprepared graduates.”
The reason for the added taxpayer cost is simple: Students who do not learn to read are far more likely to be unemployed or underemployed as adults and therefore rely more on government services.
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The taxpayer funded Madison School District long used Reading Recovery…
The data clearly indicate that being able to read is not a requirement for graduation at (Madison) East, especially if you are black or Hispanic”
My Question to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Teacher Mulligans and our Disastrous Reading Results
2017: West High Reading Interventionist Teacher’s Remarks to the School Board on Madison’s Disastrous Reading Results
Madison’s taxpayer supported K-12 school district, despite spending far more than most, has long tolerated disastrous reading results.
“An emphasis on adult employment”
Wisconsin Public Policy Forum Madison School District Report[PDF]
WEAC: $1.57 million for Four Wisconsin Senators
Friday Afternoon Veto: Governor Evers Rejects AB446/SB454; an effort to address our long term, disastrous reading results
Booked, but can’t read (Madison): functional literacy, National citizenship and the new face of Dred Scott in the age of mass incarceration.
When A Stands for Average: Students at the UW-Madison School of Education Receive Sky-High Grades. How Smart is That?