Literacy – the most powerful tool to form the future of Talahassi | Opinion – Tallahassee Democrat

And these strategies work. Mississippi, for a long time mocked the latter in many lists, now ranked first in terms of NAEP progress growth in 2024. The fourth graders of the Magnolia state lead the nation for gains in time, ranked first to improve the result in Reading and mathematics from 2013 how did they do it? In 2013, the state created its first state -funded program before K and made the reading instruction a significant focus in the third grade before the third grade.

In Leon County, the reading rate is slowly increasing, but they require a steady focus, with only just over half (55%) of third -graders reading at class level. Individual schools face challenges. Only 28% of Sabal Palm’s third -graders read at class level. And the neighboring cities of Gaddden and Jefferson have some of the lowest third-grade reading results, 37%.

Organizations such as Florida FSU Reading Center and the Foundation for High Education In Education Lead the Road by making evidence -based programs, including study materials available for Florida’s school areas. The center has trained over 4000 teachers and trainers for reading and intervention in schools.

Here’s what you can do to help. Start by imagining a community where the bigger part of the third graders read at class level. What would this mean for the big turn in 10 years? Strong families, more favorable streets, better career paths, critical thinking, better communication skills and more empathy. The list of advantages is expansive, but the taking is simple: more readers grow a stronger community.