Legislator says state reading standards may be in the works

Despite years of resisting state edicts, the chairman of the Senate Education Committee says Republican legislators may establish state-wide reading standards which must be met before a student can pass to the next grade.Senator Don Redfern, a republican from Cedar Falls, says state “block grant” programs which help kids learn to read at a very young age will get a financial boost, too.Redfern says new state reading and child development programs will NOT be subject to the round of budget cuts legislators and the Governor plan to make soon.