Only 62% of Rockford 3rd Graders Are Reading at Grade Level — Our Kids Need Us

Guest Blog Post by: Michelle Kime

Right now in Rockford Public Schools, 223 third graders are reading below grade level. Over the past decade, more than 2,200 children in our district have reached the age of 9 without making the crucial transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.”

This milestone matters. Children who miss it are far more likely to struggle throughout school and into adulthood. A child reading below proficiency at age 9 is 4 times more likely to drop out of high school, 2.5 times more likely to experience teen pregnancy, and more likely to face poverty or incarceration as an adult.
And without effective early intervention, 74% of these children will never catch up.

To understand the gap our kids are facing today, consider this:
A 3rd grader reading at grade level should be able to understand a sentence like:
“Although the squid is shy, it can defend itself by releasing ink to escape predators.”

But right now, we have 85 fourth graders who cannot read a sentence more complex than “The dog ran.”
And 138 fourth graders who cannot read beyond “The boy fed the dog.”
These are our children — our neighbors’ children — and they deserve better.

We Can Change This

Reading is a skill that improves with time, attention, and encouragement from caring adults. When a child receives even a few hours a month of focused reading support, the impact can be life-changing.

We are calling on our entire community to support a bold but achievable goal for Rockford Public Schools:
90% reading proficiency by 3rd grade.more 
This goal will require leadership, community involvement, and a clear roadmap — and we believe Rockford is ready.

How You Can Help

• Volunteer: Email RockfordReads@gmail.com to read with 1st–3rd grade students who need extra support.

• Show up: Attend the December 8th School Board meeting at 5:30 PM. If you would like to speak, email jnester@rockfordschools.org before 12:30 PM on December 8th.

• Share your voice: Send a message to Superintendent Dr. Matthews (smatthews@rockfordschools.org) and Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Mike Ramm (mramm@rockfordschools.org) expressing your support for a 90% proficiency goal.

Together, we can ensure that every child in Rockford has the chance to become a confident, capable reader — and to build the future they deserve.