A new white paper “Public School Early Literacy Failures: A Denial of Civil Rights” is being published today by Hamilton Flourishing, a non-profit, think tank based in Chattanooga. Officials said the paper reports that two thirds of Hamilton County Department of Education students do not enter fourth grade ready to read.
Doug Daugherty, president of Hamilton Flourishing said, "According to the report, children who are not reading proficiently or higher by fourth grade, based upon eighth and twelfth grade assessments, have at best, perhaps a 10 percent chance to read proficiently as high school graduates.”
Authored by Dr. Lucien Ellington, UC Foundation Professor of Education at UTC, and Dr. Kody Cooper UC Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Service at UTC, Mr. Daugherty said the report "not only brings attention to what may be Hamilton County’s biggest problem, it points to scientific, research-based solutions to the problem that mix phonics with a 'well-organized, content-based curriculum'.
"According to McKinsey & Company’s 'The Impact of Achievement Gap in America Schools', the perpetuation of illiteracy leads to heavy and often tragic consequences, via lower earnings, poorer health and higher rates of incarceration."
Mr. Daugherty said, "Hamilton County leaders have repeatedly underscored the need for a ready work force to continue the healthy economic growth in our region, reduce gang activity, increase family formation, and decrease criminal justice costs. Hamilton Flourishing will have a continuing stream of information related to childhood literacy broadcast through their website and Facebook page throughout 2020. Some of this will be directed to parents as teachers, who can better prepare their children for kindergarten or first grade.
“We hope we can help galvanize the community behind a sound approach, based on the latest research on such things as brain development, and move significantly more children to reading proficiently over the next few years.
“The sad truth is that in Hamilton County Public Schools illiteracy follows them into the world after high school where only 37.2% are ready for additional higher education, the military or to enter the work force.”
The complete report can be found with all research citations at the Hamilton Flourishing website, www.hamiltonflourishing.org. It is being emailed to approximately 10,000 citizens in Hamilton County as well as posted on the group’s Facebook page.