Ohio Governor Mike DeWine pitches literacy plan at Youngstown school

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine continued his statewide literacy tour Thursday with a stop in the Mahoning Valley at Paul C. Bunn Elementary School in Youngstown.

DeWine is traveling to help promote the idea of his endorsed phonics-based Science of Reading to be picked up throughout the state.

The governor stopped in three classrooms to observe teachers and students and liked what he saw.

“Very impressive,” he told the staff. “Congratulations.”

Kindergarten teacher Jessie Hall says she likes using the system.

“It takes the guessing out of things and helps students become better readers,” she said.

DeWine is trying to convince state legislators to adopt a proposed budget that would give $129 million to retrain teachers and replace elementary school textbooks.

He said his reasoning is clear.

“40% of our third graders are not reading at third-grade level,” he said. “40%. We have to change that.”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Get the latest Mahoning Valley news in your email inbox weekday mornings. Sign up here for our free daily newsletter.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here’s how you can support Mahoning Matters.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Follow Mahoning Matters on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.