It must serve as a wake-up call for us to examine our priorities and redouble our efforts to better prepare our students.
Every child has the ability and the right to become a skillful reader.
While there are no simple answers on how to achieve this, there are practical solutions that we already know work. First, we need to lower class sizes in the early years. Too many of our students are placed in crowded classrooms where they cannot receive the attention they deserve. Second, we need to address the critical teacher shortage, particularly in poor and urban areas. Many experienced teachers are leaving the profession, and replenishing their ranks must be a top national priority.