Frederica Wilson: “This amendment provides for elementary students reading below grade level to utilize intensive care reading labs to…”

“This amendment provides for elementary students reading below grade level to utilize intensive care reading labs to improve their reading efficiency. I am well aware of the shortcomings of H.R. 5 and its failure to make the improvements necessary to bring our educational system into the 21st century. The bill falls short of providing quality education for many of our young students and has, in fact, left many of our students behind. Students need enriching learning environments, individualized instruction, well-trained teachers, and positive reinforcement to support their educational development. Mr. Chairman, this amendment I have before you today provides for just that approach to helping students improve their reading proficiency. First, it provides for individualized reading instruction through intensive care reading labs, in addition to their normal reading instruction in schools, helping improve students' literacy early in their education. In these labs, students will be taught by highly trained teachers who work with students in small numbers to improve their literacy and reading comprehension. If children can read on grade level by grade three, they will graduate high school. Teachers in first, second, and third grade should specialize in teaching language arts, then another subgroup should specialize in math and science. They should be trained by the school district.…”