Center of the American Experiment returns to the Minnesota State Fair this Saturday to talk to fairgoers about the dismal state of third-grade reading. According to data from the Minnesota Department of Education, 85 percent of school districts have a failing score (less than 60 percent) in third-grade reading proficiency. Fairgoers on Saturday, August 23 will have the opportunity to interact with a giant map of Minnesota school districts to see how their third graders measure up. In true state fair practice, all participants will receive a free ruler.
Fairgoers will also see this message on billboards as they approach the fairgrounds. American Experiment is highlighting poor reading scores to educate Minnesotans on the decline in academic achievement that began before the pandemic and continues despite generous increases in K-12 funding.
“We have a stark message for Minnesotans at the state fair: your schools aren’t as good as they once were, and they aren’t as good as you think they are,” said Catrin Wigfall, education policy fellow at Center of the American Experiment.
The ability to read by the end of third grade is a critical skill for a child’s success — not only for the remainder of his or her K-12 journey and later educational outcomes but for future career opportunities, earnings potential, and economic mobility.
The answer to poor reading scores begins with real school choice. American Experiment and Opportunity for All Kids (OAK) have joined forces to promote a $7,000 Education Savings Account (ESA) with their $7k for Kids campaign. With ESAs, Minnesota families could use the dollars already allocated for their child’s education to cover pre-approved expenses such as tuition at another school, special education services, and even individual classes from a public school, to name a few. It’s an opportunity to fully customize a child’s education and meet individual students where they are at to ensure they are best set up for future success.
“There are only so many years in a K-12 journey, and the kids can’t wait,” added Wigfall.
American Experiment will be at the fair on Saturday, August 23 in Dan Patch Park, just south of the Grandstand.
