Falling Elementary Reading Scores in Florida % of Proficient Students Declines
The “Nation’s Report Card” was released on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, showing declining academic performance in the majority of states across the nation.
While Florida outperformed the nation in many cases, there is still urgent work to be done. 38% of Florida’s 4th grade students are reading below basic level, an increase of nearly 10 percentage points since 2022.
“For too long parents have been told that reading to their children should be sufficient for them to pick up reading – but it is much more technical than that,” says Alison Rini, local microschool founder.
“There need to be connections in the brain between the shape of letters on the page, the sound of letters in words, and the meaning of these words. Some children need lots and lots of targeted practice.”
Many schools are picking up on the “Science of Reading” and providing strategic instruction in connecting the dots. For Rini’s school, Star Lab, this work is foundational – the school is on a mission to prove the research finding that 95% of children can read on grade-level given sufficient instruction. Star Lab combines structured phonics, knowledgebuilding curriculum, and family empowerment to rapidly accelerate students’ learning.
Star Lab offers periodic parent demonstrations of learning to empower parents as partners. “We had a student enter with no knowledge of letter names. She learned a few letters and we were excited to show her family – and within a few weeks, she knew almost half the alphabet!” said Natalia Pal, kindergarten teacher.
“The student’s family built upon their child’s progress at school and knew she was capable of even more – and of course she proved them right.”
Star Lab is currently celebrating School Choice Week – a national movement that occurs in the last week of January. Star Lab is just one of many innovative programs that Sarasota families can choose from. Next year the school will serve children from K-3rd grade to offer guaranteed reading success to children who have begun to struggle in larger programs.
There are many different types of schools and they all have different strengths. Currently, Sarasota’s reading scores are on an uptick in the public schools as well, with 68% of the district’s 3rd graders reading on-grade-level last spring.
About Star Lab: Star Lab is a private elementary school, operating in the Newtown neighborhood of Sarasota, dedicated to providing high levels of both learning and joy for children, teachers, and families. Star Lab offers a personalized pace of academics combined with movement and play to help all students achieve at high levels. The school integrates arts, physical education, mindfulness, and community engagement to expand students’ horizons and give them unlimited ways to shine. Families are welcome throughout the day and form a true partnership with staff to support students in all areas of their lives. For more information, visit starlab. world or call (941) 3132423.
