Idisagreed with former State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister on many issues. But credit where credit is due: In 2019, she spoke the hard truth about the seriousness of Oklahoma’s reading problem.

“There is no reason a child cannot read before they are in third grade,” she said. “But our teachers have to teach based on the science of reading, and that is not happening across this state. It is happening in pockets.”

This is unacceptable.

Imagine if teaching about the law of universal gravitation were “not happening” in this state. Or if teaching about the germ theory of disease were happening only “in pockets.”

Policymakers would have no patience with science-deniers who shortchanged their students like that.

It’s time to get equally serious about reading. Oklahoma’s reading outcomes ar

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