Minnesota Reading Fact Sheet
5 Strand Fact Sheet.pdf
CONFEREE E-MAIL
TITLE: SUPPORT EVERY CHILD's RIGHT TO READ
Dear [NAME of House or Senate conferees from above list).
I urge you to demonstrate your strong commitment to ensuring all children have the right to read by supporting the Senate literacy provisions in SF3001. These provisions put real meaning into existing state statute that already requires our teacher colleges to incorporate these effective reading strategies into their curriculum.
Please do not accept the status quo and the unacceptable numbers of children across Minnesota who are failing to read by third grade. Once children fall behind, it takes extraordinary effort for them to catch up, and sadly most do not. There is too much at stake to not ensure all teachers are trained in researched-based strategies that we know work with struggling readers.
Some parents have the time and means to seek out private tutors and special after-school programs to get effective reading instruction for their struggling young readers; most families do not. Please join the Minnesota Senate and take the position that money and luck should not determine if children receive the effective reading instruction they need to succeed.
When so many young teachers report that they were not prepared and did not have the skills to identify and teach the nearly one third of children in their classrooms who are struggling to read, the time to act is now.
While I understand the House supports stronger standards for physical education, I urge you to demonstrate your commitment to stronger literacy standards too, by supporting the Senate provisions in SF3001. These provisions will help to ensure that all children have an opportunity to reach their full potential.
I appreciate your commitment and leadership on this issue!
Best regards,
[NAME, ADDRESS & PHONE NO.]