The Detroit Free Press – Lori Higgins
“Michigan schools should devote at least 90 minutes a day to reading instruction for students in kindergarten through third grade, and even more time for struggling readers. Every student should be evaluated to determine their strengths and weaknesses in reading. And all teachers, including those in preparation programs, should receive training to intervene with kids who need extra help. Those are some of the recommendations detailed in a report released today by the Third Grade Reading Workgroup, which was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder earlier this year. The group’s task? To study solutions and make recommendations to help improve early literacy across Michigan. “We’re not doing as well in Michigan as we should be,” Snyder said during a news conference today. “We’ve been making some progress. But to be blunt, we’re falling behind the rest of the country.” The budget the Legislature approved this afternoon includes $31 million for an early literacy initiative that includes some of things recommended today.”(more)