Political Quotes

“Tomorrow is an important day for all of our schoolchildren and all of our children across this country. When I came to Congress 3 rac{1}{2} years ago, the rate of children that could not even read at basic level in our schools across this country was 40 percent. Forty percent of all schoolchildren in the fourth grade could not even read at basic levels. Clearly, as we have poured resources, we have poured time and attention and research into making sure our children all learn to read, we were missing the mark with some our children. I am sure all of us do not need to be reminded how important it is that children learn to read. They learn to read first in kindergarten and first grade so that they can go on about in fourth grade to other things: science, health, geography, social studies, all other subjects that require good reading skills. We also know from research that if a child does not learn to read by the beginning of fourth grade, there is a very strong probability that that child will never learn to read at their capacity.”