38% of South Carolina Students Functionally Illiterate

Mick Zais announced that nearly a fourth of South Carolina students are functionally illiterate. According to the most recent standardized testing scores, South Carolina ranks 39th in the nation for fourth grade reading. South Carolina also ranks significantly low in mathematics nationally. Mick Zais attributes this low ranking to a "one size fits all" education system, something he says is failing our students.

Those in kindergarten through fourth grade should be learning the fundamentals necessary for literacy, but there is a hole somewhere in the system, as 38% of children entering fourth grade are functionally illiterate. Zais believes that a more individualized approach would benefit children more than the current system.