1 out of every 3 Iowa third graders cannot read at grade level.

Learning to read is one of the most important milestones in a child’s education. But if a child hasn’t learned to read by the end of third grade, they’re likely to struggle throughout the rest of their school years.

That’s because starting in fourth grade, the focus of education shifts. Instead of learning how to read, students are expected to read in order to learn. Textbooks, assignments, and tests all assume that students can understand written information. Without strong reading skills by this stage, students begin to fall behind.

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