The February episode of a local television program hosted by Senator Dave Argall (R-29) discusses bipartisan initiatives, with a focus on the Reuniting America by Fostering Trust (RAFT) project. RAFT aims to bring together individuals from different political parties to foster trust and cooperation. Senator Argall took part in a RAFT event on the Lehigh River near Weatherly and spoke about his experience during an episode of the Reuniting America Podcast.
“I joined RAFT on the beautiful Lehigh River in this district where the theme of the day was ‘In the Same Boat,’” said Argall. “Our day stressed the importance of working together, regardless of our differences, just as we had to do as we navigated the whitewater rapids.”
The program also covers a recent Senate Majority Policy Committee hearing that addressed new bipartisan strategies for improving reading instruction in Pennsylvania schools. The hearing discussed how Mississippi implemented new reading methods that significantly improved student performance, moving its scores from among the lowest nationally to above average—a turnaround often referred to as the “Mississippi Miracle.”
Pennsylvania has recently passed literacy legislation modeled after Mississippi’s approach. This includes structured literacy requirements, professional development for educators, universal screenings for students, and intervention plans for those who are struggling.
“It doesn’t matter which career path our young people decide to take, it’s impossible to function in today’s world without being able to read. We’ve taken significant steps to boost our literacy rates, but our work is just beginning,” said Argall. “Based on the results in Mississippi, this is revolutionary. We need to replicate this effort here in Pennsylvania.”
This edition of The Argall Report will be broadcast locally and is also available online at https://www.senatorargall.com/argallreport/.
