Wisconsin's African-American fourth-graders post worst reading scores in U.S.

National Center for Education Statistics

Link to March 25 Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel article, "

Excerpt:   Phillip Dosmann, principal of Craig and Maryland Avenue Montessori schools in Milwaukee, said MPS' four Montessori schools have found a way to effect change locally, and African-American students scored above not only the district average, but the state average for black students on all subject areas of the state's standardized assessments last school year.

He credited the schools' approach of starting with phonetic-based reading instruction at age 3, infusing reading in every subject area and keeping students with their teachers for three-year cycles.

Parents also play a big role, Dosmann said.

"Parents are helpful in terms of following up with homework and reading with their children and enriching their children's lives through different experiences," he said.