Governor Kim Reynolds recently visited Adel and observed a first grade reading lesson led by teacher Erin Koelker. The Adel-DeSoto-Minburn district has been implementing the science of reading for three years, with significant improvements in students’ reading and writing skills. With 95% of students now proficient compared to only 25% four years ago, administrator Travis Welker highlighted the positive impact of this approach.
In response to these successes, Reynolds signed a bill into law at the ADM board room, requiring Iowa schools to develop plans for students in first, second, or third grade who are not reading at grade level. While this law does not ban the “three-cueing” reading curriculum, it mandates testing for college student teachers to assess their knowledge of the science of reading.
The significance of this legislation became clear when Reynolds announced that 35% of Iowa third graders are not currently reading at grade level. To address this issue, she allocated $9 million in the state budget for training programs aimed at implementing the science of reading in classrooms. Reynolds expressed optimism about the progress and results that will be achieved through these initiatives and emphasized the importance of empowering teachers and school districts with the necessary tools and training to improve literacy outcomes for students across Iowa.
