Opinion | Want to improve learning in Michigan schools? Read, read, read

When I was a child, I developed a love for reading that still sticks with me today. Even as a newspaper carrier, I just didn’t deliver the paper daily, I also read them every day, to supplement my love for reading.

What began as a love for reading grew into a love for learning that’s lasted a lifetime.

Reading granted me access to a new world.

I am reminded of how boldly President Barack Obama championed the importance of reading.  He once said: “Reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible.”

When I hear that quote, I think of urban cities such as Detroit, Pontiac, Inkster, Highland Park and Romulus. I think about the future of our communities.

It is worth noting that a 2019 report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress found that only 6 percent of Detroit Public School students were performing at or above the proficient level in reading. And, with two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and virtual schooling, I fear that urban school students may have fallen farther behind.

This means in addition to having trouble comprehending their schoolwork, these students will likely be unable to fill out basic forms, read certain signage, or handle other tasks most Americans take for granted.

It’s critical that we shift our focus to the future. We must stop at nothing to make sure our youth are equipped with the basic tools to thrive in the real world.

There are several resources available for a number of residents’ needs, but their inability to search, read, and properly write prevents some from seeking to take the necessary action.

That’s where the Urban League of Detroit and Southeastern Michigan’s “Project Ready” program comes in.

Project Ready serves at-risk, low-achieving eighth- through 12th grade students in the Metropolitan Detroit area. 

Through this program, we engage students in academic and life skills training, leadership development, community service learning, financial literacy training and preparation for life after high school.

However, our program is just one part of the equation. We must work together as a community to help our youth succeed in the future.

If our kids can’t read and write, they will grow into adults who lack the basic skills to live meaningful lives and contribute to their communities. In fact, studies show that illiterate adults are more often involved in crime and have higher incarceration rates.

We challenge you to spend some time reading with the young ones in your life. We believe this will help these youth build a foundation anchored by a love of reading.

After all, President Obama said it best: “Reading makes all other learning possible. We have to get books into our children’s hands early in life and often.”