https://dailymemphian.com/feed/authors/208 The Daily Memphian is the must-read, daily online newspaper for in-depth, local journalism in Memphis and the Mid-South. Sign up for morning and evening editions, plus breaking news. (c) 2026 https://dailymemphian.com/article/5816 <p>Currently, just over 50% of children are ready when they enter kindergarten and only about a quarter of third-graders in Shelby County Schools are reading on grade level. That means half of Shelby County students are already behind before they even get started.</p> Michael.Whaley@shelbycountytn.gov (Michael Whaley) Opinion Guest Columnists https://dailymemphian.com/article/5816 Sun, 23 Jun 2019 04:00:04 -0500 https://dailymemphian.com/article/3743 <p>Instead of trying a new, unproven program with dubious accountability to the taxpayers who are funding it, why don&rsquo;t we double down on the initiatives that are already working across the state?</p> Michael.Whaley@shelbycountytn.gov (Michael Whaley) Opinion Guest Columnists https://dailymemphian.com/article/3743 Fri, 15 Mar 2019 04:00:00 -0500