LET'S TALK ABOUT SCHOOL.
Third grade is a tough year.
In Chattanooga and across the country, the level of reading proficiency that a student demonstrates by the end of third grade is an important indicator of future success. Up to that point, students are learning to read. After third grade, those students are reading to learn.
A study conducted for the U.S. Department of Education by researchers at Yale found that three out of four students who are poor readers in third grade will remain poor readers throughout high school. That means lower grades, lower test scores, more frustration.
This problem snowballs over time, but it’s not the only issue.
Family hardship, problems with upper level math, funding issues within schools – there are a lot of challenges facing our children who are getting their education through the public school system.
Unfortunately, here in Hamilton County, it shows.
PACT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION
We believe that we can do better than that.
We’ve put together a list of recommendations based on community input and best school practices both here in Chattanooga and across the nation.