ROCHESTER — Superintendent Bolgen Vargas has outlined several goals for the Rochester City School District, which include making sure every child can read by third grade.
Later this month, he also will propose a budget to carry out those goals.
"If we don’t get our children to read by third grade, they are going to face serious challenges," including an increased likelihood that they will drop out, he said during the Feb. 6 State of our Schools presentation at All City High School. "The research is very clear … that child is going to face difficulty."
Investment in such a goal has a huge impact economically, noted Malek Evans, school board president.
"Every $1 invested in a child’s education is $1 less invested in prisons and remedial education down the line," he said.
Vargas said that parents or guardians in the district can play important roles in the reading initiative by reading to their children every day for 30 minutes or having the child read for that amount of time.
To help improve overall learning, the board also will consider extending the school day, he added. And, implementation has begun on the common core standards that will create a more rigorous academic program for all school districts, Vargas said.
"We are aiming to help prepare our children for the 21st century," he said. "Any child regardless of socioeconomic conditions is able to learn. We want to help our families, our students and ourselves have high expectations."
To learn more about these initiatives or for Information on upcoming budget hearings, visit http://rcsdk12.org or call 585-262-8100.
