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NextGen: What are your thoughts on improving third grade on-level reading scores? Commissioner Stewart: I believe this is something that must be dealt with early, before third grade. To make sure that students are reading on grade level by third grade we as educators need to make certain that our best resources are in grades K-2. I believe a child can come into Kindergarten not recognizing her alphabet and be on grade level by the end of Kindergarten, if the resources are in place. We can’t just focus on third grade scores or fourth grade scores. It’s got to be the focus in Kindergarten. It’s got to be the focus in ��rst grade. It’s got to be the focus in second grade. The entire responsibility doesn’t fall on third grade teachers. It’s sort of like thinking about preventative medicine instead of triage. When we think we have to have our best resources in third grade, we’re thinking triage instead of thinking preventative care. So, there’s that, and I also think there is a need to make sure that our teachers really fully understand and know the standards; know


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