By Lily Abromeit

In recent years, studies have shown that reading proficiency is dropping in young students and a research center on campus is focusing all of their resources on the issue.

Nearly one in four of Iowa’s third-grade level public students did not test proficiently in national reading assessments and the Iowa Reading Research Center aims to make every Iowa child a proficient reader by third grade.

The center was formed in 2012 by state legislation but moved into the Lindquist Center last spring. They provide the highest level of reading resources to Iowa educators and families.

This year, the program has a new location and a new leader.

Deborah Reed, the center’s new director, said they focus on reading instruction, reading intervention and reading assessment.

“Our work is designed to find the best practices to improve student’s outcomes [and] to improve their reading proficiency so that they’re achieving at high levels,” she said.

Daily Iowan TV’s Andrew Roberts has the full story.