New education initiative announced for The First State

Delaware students have been falling behind the national curve during their early school years, and the state is taking action.  

Governor Carney, along with Education Secretary Susan Bunting, State Board of Education President Dr. Dennis Loftus and United Way of Delaware President Michelle Taylor announced a new campaign, the Delaware Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, aiming at improving statewide literacy rates by the end of third grade.

In The First State, only 52 percent of children read at grade level by this critical time, but that number drops to 37 percent in 17 low-income zip codes, including Wilmington, Dover, and western and central Sussex County.

The program will focus on reducing student absentees, increasing the number of degreed professionals in the early childhood learning workforce, and reducing the 'summer learning loss.'

"Research has shown that where kids are by the end of third grade is a good predictor of where they will be in high school.  It impacts high school, and their life thereafter.  So we know that up until third grade kids learn to read, and then they read to learn," said Taylor.

The state is also looking for your help in the matter, promoting grade level reading with United Way, you can volunteer to read to school children as part of their Reading Angels program.  TO express interest, email them at communityengagement@uwde.org.