Opinion

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June 27, 2012

Editorial: Schools partnership is vital to area’s future

If we want Dalton to prosper in the future, we must make sure our children can prosper in the future. And local leaders are taking the right steps to make sure our children have the tools they need to thrive in the 21st century.

On Thursday, representatives from the Dalton City Council, Dalton Public Schools, the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, Whitfield County Schools and the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners met at the Mack Gaston Community Center to formally announce their support for a community-wide literacy initiative that aims to have all children reading at grade level or better by the third grade.

Researchers at the University of Chicago have found that roughly 45 percent of students who read below grade level in third-grade graduated from high school within five years of entering high school. By comparison, more than 60 percent of students who read at grade level in third grade and nearly 80 percent of students who read above grade level in third grade graduated high school within five years.

This and other studies suggest that supporting struggling readers as early as possible could bolster their success in school.

Dalton and Whitfield County have pledged to work together using the Literacy Collaborative program already in Dalton schools to reach those young struggling readers.

Dalton schools are entering their eighth year using the Literacy Collaborative, which trains teachers to use intensive techniques to help students develop strong reading and writing skills. Whitfield County Schools will invest $800,000 to begin the program in its six elementary schools with the highest poverty levels: Antioch, Cedar Ridge, Dawnville, Dug Gap, Eastside and Valley Point. There are plans to eventually expand the initiative to all the elementary and middle schools.  We believe a great education system is the key component in creating a successful and vibrant free society. This initiative, if nurtured, could be a big and positive first step on a long road to greatness as a community. And it could provide a model of how we should expect our local governments to work together.

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