Need early identification and remediation of learning disabilities.

By John R. Ackland

The state's goal is for all children to be reading on grade level by the end of third grade. What do we do about children with reading disabilities?

Some students come to school with special learning problems. These need to be tested and diagnosed early, in kindergarten or first grade. Teachers and parents need to be provided with the training, materials, and teaching strategies to help these children succeed in the classroom. These children need to have the funding and programs available to them so they, too, can be reading and meet their high academic standard.

I reccomend a remedial summer school with a highly trained staff to meet the needs of these children. The teachers should be fully compensated for their teaching time. The parents should also be involved in the process of helping their child succeed. The parents are the first teachers and the life-long mentors for their chldren.