Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cassidy presses reading, dyslexia focus and defends parental choice amid Education Department shake-up
Summary
Sen. Bill Cassidy said 40% of fourth-graders read below basic and urged more attention to dyslexia (which he said affects 20% of the population), arguing parents should be empowered to choose schools; he responded to criticism from Sen. Elizabeth Warren during a television interview.
Senator Bill Cassidy said the United States has underperformed on elementary reading for two decades and called for stronger federal attention to dyslexia and individualized instruction. "40% of children read below basic on reading scores in the fourth grade," Cassidy said, adding that "20% of those watching have dyslexia" and that the federal government has done "very little to address dyslexia."
Cassidy praised the president's willingness to "break some eggs" and said his goal as committee chair is to address reading outcomes. He framed his approach around parental choice, saying Republicans are "committed to giving her that child's mother or father the ability to choose the school where their child can flourish." He contrasted parental authority with what he characterized as teachers' unions wanting to "stick a kid someplace he can never get out of."
The host read a statement from Senator Elizabeth Warren accusing the administration's plans of punishing underserved students; Cassidy responded by arguing that underserved children are "trapped in failing schools," estimated higher low-reading rates among children of color, and urged giving parents more options.
Context and caveats: The host mentioned proposed moves to shuffle some Education Department duties to other agencies and read a critical statement from Sen. Warren; Cassidy spoke broadly about outcomes and remedies but did not cite specific federal programs, statutory changes, or legislation in the interview.
