ACHIEVING EQUITY
THROUGH LITERACY
Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen has accurately called “literacy attainment the equity issue
of our time.” I agree. I will take it one step further: Education is the civil-rights issue of our generation. Education
is also the key to Tennessee’s future.
In Tennessee, public schools must ensure all students are well-prepared for college or the workforce. All students
must be ready to participate as responsible and engaged citizens when they graduate. The greatest challenge we
have is to make sure our students leave high school as creative and critical thinkers. That begins with the ability
to read on grade level. It all begins and ends with reading.