Clinton's proposal also calls for voluntary national tests in reading for fourth-graders and math for eighth-graders. This is where the proposal runs into trouble - House Republicans oppose the testing aspect of Clinton's legislation. Consequently, all work on the proposal has been stalled until the president and the legislators resolve their dispute.
National testing should not be a part of the program. Standardized tests are often biased against minorities in poor, urban areas. In addition, it is unclear what influence the test scores will have - if they are to play a role in deciding which students receive federal financial aid dollars, many students may be unfairly penalized - these groups have the most need for the tutoring program. If the test results were used to determine the allocation of federal funds to school districts, the program could hurt those it was intended to help.
Without the voluntary tests, the program will still help children learn to read. The testing is not an integral part of the plan - rather, it is one that can and should be dropped. This would end the political debate over Clinton's proposal and allow students to get the help that they need. The plan must proceed, because reading is so crucial to later success. It would be a mistake to end or delay the program, but dropping the testing requirement would only enhance the program's benefits.
It is extremely important for the future of the nation's educational system that the America Reads program is successful. Reading is the cornerstone of all education - without it, it is extremely difficult for students to succeed academically or in the workplace. Increased literacy among young people should be a national goal, regardless of political differences. The legislators should do what is best for the nation's educational system and approve the America Reads program.
The America Reads Challenge is a good plan that should prove extremely helpful to all involved - children will learn to read, the volunteer tutors will have the opportunity to help their community while earning money to offset tuition bills and the job market will get the promise of a stronger, more-literate future work force. It would be a great shame if political disagreements between Congress and the president brought the initiative to better the country's future down. The best solution is to abandon the tests, allowing the program to be successfully instituted so that it will benefit the students across the country who need help with reading.