The Department of Public Instruction is distributing a total of $4.8 million from funds allocated by the state in 2016 as part of its Read to Achieve initiative for “literacy support” in early grades. Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson, in his time as superintendent, has emphasized the importance of reading proficiency and early literacy education.

“As we have discussed multiple times, reading on grade level by the third grade is a very important milestone for all students,” Johnson said in Thursday’s press conference. “If they don’t read on grade level by third grade, they will always be working in school to catch up.”

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