Children who start strong in reading are more likely to succeed academically as they progress through middle school, high school, and beyond. Conversely, those who struggle to read in the early grades often falter as they encounter more challenging material; many become frustrated with school and drop out.
Ohio lawmakers have long recognized the importance of foundational reading skills to long-term student success. Passed in 2012, the state’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee laid a strong policy foundation for early literacy. But much more needs to be done to truly “guarantee” that all Buckeye children acquire the reading capabilities needed for a successful future.
Our new policy brief, fourth in a series, recommends several ways that legislators can build on Ohio’s early literacy initiative to truly ensure that every child acquires the reading skills they need to succeed.
