DeWines visit Harding High School
Governor, first lady in town to tout ReadOhio initiative
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WARREN -- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and his team paid a visit to Warren G. Harding High School on Friday to discuss the state's newly launched ReadOhio initiative.
The initiative, which was announced by the governor's office Thursday, is a statewide effort to encourage improved literacy skills for all ages, including the implementation of curriculum aligned with the science of reading in K-12 schools, according to a news release.
At the news conference in the Harding High School library, DeWine detailed the importance of "the science of reading," when it comes to early childhood development and lifelong learning.
"Frankly, we thought the best way to explain the science of reading is by talking to teachers and by talking to students," DeWine said. "Here in Warren, you're ahead of the game. You've been moving forward, I appreciate the efforts. As we talk with teachers, as always, it's a work in progress. But there are many schools, frankly, which are much further behind."
According to the news release, 40 percent of Ohio third-graders are not proficient in reading.
According to the Ohio Department of Education website, the science of reading informs students how to read and write proficiently; explains why some students have difficulty with reading and writing, indicates that all students benefit from explicit and systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension and writing to become effective readers; and does not rely on any model of teaching students to read based on meaning, structure and syntax, and visual cues, including a three-cueing approach.
DeWine said the state's goal is to have every school focused on the science of reading as soon as possible.
"We need to have a sense of urgency," he said. "Children only have the chance to grow up once."
Dr. Chris Woolard, the interim superintendent of public instruction at the Ohio Department of Education, emphasized the sense of urgency that the governor described. Woolard noted a series of statistics that point to the vital nature of reading when it comes to children's development.
"Ohio data shows that students who are not proficient readers are less likely to meet any number of key markers of success," Woolard said. "Whether it's graduation or being ready for college or a career."
As DeWine noted, Warren City Schools have already implemented elements of the science of reading into its curriculum. Superintendent Steve Chiaro said the district hopes to continue to develop the program.
"What we started doing in 2019 was we started shifting how we were teaching our earliest learners in implementing some of the components of the science of reading," Chiaro said. "Some of it was working with phonics and phonemic awareness, as the governor outlined."
Chiaro said the district ran into some issues with the program during the COVID-19 pandemic, when teachers had to wear masks. But, he said a literacy team was formed with teachers and support staff in the district that researched and identified materials that would support the science of reading.
"The teachers selected what they believed would work best for their class and classrooms," Chiaro said. "Since then, we have identified resources for our teachers, we have purchased the resources, we provide professional development on the resources, and now we're implementing the resources in our classrooms."
Chiaro said on Tuesday, the district was notified that it was receiving an additional $409,000 of state funding annually to go toward the development of early learners.
"Many schools like we see here are down the path of implementing the science of reading," Woolard said. "But we need to make sure that all students in all classrooms have access to curriculum and instruction that's aligned to the science of reading."
Another focus of the initiative is expanding the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Ohio. The program provides one free book per month for any child from birth to 5 years old.
First Lady Fran DeWine said Ohio has been partnering with the Imagination Library since 2019. Since then, 13 million books have been mailed directly to Ohio children.
"This month more than 58 percent of kids that are under 5 are getting those books," Fran DeWine said. "So that's almost 300,090 kids that are signed up to get the books every month."
Fran DeWine noted there has been a recent uptick in the number of children who have signed up for the program. She said the state saw 5,000 children above the average number sign up for the free books last month.
The governor's team made it clear they believe there is no time to waste for implementing the science of reading in Ohio schools.
The governor and his team were welcomed to the high school by Harding's marching band, which greated him as he exited his vehicle.
Then, the DeWines observed a preschool class being taught by third-year teacher Shauna McKinstry.
Chiaro said he was glad the governor's team presented the ReadOhio initiative live from Harding and he appreciates the support from the state.
"Having the governor and Mrs. DeWine here, and they've been great supporters of Warren City Schools over the years, is very positive for our kids and communities, especially as we're getting ready to open school," Chiaro said.
Woolard said that free resources for teachers, students and families are available at education.ohio.gov/readohio.