Spain News

Nearly one-third of Massachusetts parents are concerned about their child’s reading progress, according to a new poll that also found heightened concern among certain groups. The poll found that Black, Latino and Asian families all expressed higher-than-average concerns. Families from gateway cities, 26 midsize communities with income and educational attainment below the state average, and families with low-income backgrounds expressed concern at a similar rate. Parents of English learners and those with children in an individualized education program expressed the greatest degree of concern.This poll is the tenth in a series of similar polls conducted by The Education Trust in Massachusetts, an advocacy group whose research is supported by the Barr Foundation. The poll was conducted by the MassINC Polling Group. Results are based on responses from 1,559 parents of Massachusetts students in grades K-12. Surveys were conducted online and by phone in both English and Spanish between April 8 and May 2. Results are given a 3% margin of error. “The sobering reality that a majority of Massachusetts children are going to school without learning basic literacy skills is deeply troubling, but also completely preventable,” said Jennie Williamson, state director for EdTrust in Massachusetts.EdTrust is pushing for Massachusetts to use an “evidence-based reading curriculum” and said their poll found that 84% of parents definitely or probably believe schools should be required to use such systems. Respondents were told that such programs mean “materials that are proven to work in teaching students how to read.” Meanwhile, the poll found that 51% are aware of the reading curriculum used in their child’s school.”The widespread use of reading approaches that have been proven ineffective and even harmful to students in schools across the state must be confronted, urgently and head-on by state and local policymakers,” Williamson said. EdTrust is inviting the public to a virtual event and panel discussion regarding their findings and related issues at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.