ST. PAUL, MN –  Senate Education Chair Roger Chamberlain (R-Lino Lakes) released the following statement on the report showing Minnesota students and schools are struggling to meet basic reading, math, and science skills.  

“Senate Republicans championed early literacy reforms and funding this session as our number one priority because if students can’t read, they can’t succeed. 

“Pandemic distance-learning was incredibly detrimental to kids’ academic and mental health, but, even prior to the pandemic, reading scores were in decline under the Dayton and Walz administrations. Primarily because of their refusal to stay focused on academics and early literacy. These latest results are further proof we need a major course correction. We need accountability, transparency, and proven learning methods to get kids on the right track.”