South Dakota reaches worrying national average of 68% among fourth-grade reading non-proficiency

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - Nationwide, the US saw a 2% increase regarding fourth graders not being proficient in reading, raising the previous national average of 64% to 68% in 2022.

The 2023 South Dakota KIDS Count Data Profile by the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows an increase in a section of education that should not be going up: fourth graders not being proficient in reading—the study shows a 4% increase, bringing the previous state average of 64% to 68% on par with the national average.

“That’s a really scary statistic because early-grade level reading is a huge indicator for overall lifetime success. Like it impacts graduation rates, it impacts whether you’re going to find a good career in life,” expressed Black Hills Reads director Hanna Glissendorf.

One way to try and curve the statistic in the other direction is for parents to get involved and read to their children, even if it is just for a few minutes. According to a study by the Child Mind Institute, while there is no specific way of reading to your child, the important thing is to let them hear you say different words and to talk to them while reading the book.

“Kids report that some of their fondest memories and time that they enjoy most with their parents is actually reading with them, and so taking that time to bond with them can also help grow literacy and then just have so many great memories and enjoyable times with your child,” explained Rapid City Public Library public relations coordinator Laurinda Tapper.

Even partaking in what is known as reading challenges, like the Race to Read Challenge in the Black Hills, starts preparing those younger kids to develop a liking for the world of literature.

“The best way to get kids to love reading and to want to read is just to make sure they have the opportunity to read whatever they want and to read as many books as they want,” explained Glissendorf. “What I’ve seen is that families will use this challenge as a way to make sure that they’re reading to their kids every night, and it just makes it so that these kids actually want to read, and it just makes them more excited about the process.”

Once that excitement is built, keep encouraging the kid to read as many books as possible, as this will develop into a good habit that will follow them until adulthood.

“If they read every day, it just builds those skills; it can also build the love of reading; it builds empathy and creativity; and it just helps people excel,” said Tapper. “I think it’s important to foster a love of books at a young age because reading in literacy and education isn’t just for children, and if they get into reading at a young age, they’re more apt to do it as an adult.”

The hyperfocus on early reading proficiency comes to the forefront because, when students shift, they usually tend to shift their focus from learning to read to reading to learn.

The South Dakota 2023 KIDS Count Data Profile also shows that there was an increase of 7% in the non-proficient in math category for eighth-graders, bringing the previous total of 61% up to 68%, only 6% behind the national average of 74%.

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