By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
In the most recent Kids Count report, organized by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, statistics were revealed that 69% of fourth-graders in Kansas were not proficient in reading. Similar declining numbers were found in math results.
While some of the decline was seen prior to the COVID pandemic, a lingering effect of staying at home and altered coursework during shutdowns is still making an impact as children get older, eventually showing up at the college level.
Barton Community College Vice President of Instruction Elaine Simmons said while COVID had a role, how we use English and reading has changed too.
"How we use the language in everyday life has changed," said Simmons. "The use of social media and technology devices...I think it's a combination of things that are bringing forward individuals that writing and reading are not as commonplace."
Barton Vice President of Student Services Angie Maddy said the college’s testing coordinator has seen consistent lower scores from local high school students in English and reading.
"It's such a focus thing to go out to an area high school where you're testing sophomores, juniors and seniors who maybe want to take a class with Barton in the upcoming year," said Maddy. "It's targeted, but you walk away and go 'wow', the English and reading scores are lower than they have been here. When you see that a few schools, you think maybe it's those schools, but every time the coordinator has been coming back she has been saying it's continuing."
Out of the 50-state assessment, the Kids Count report ranked Kansas 19th overall on education, economics, health and family conditions relevant to raising a child.