Reading Proficiency Improves for K-3 Students

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for November 12, 2025. We break down the politics and implications of the latest government shutdown—and why Democrats are scrambling to pin the fallout on President Trump. We examine how the shutdown began, what it cost the country, and why the Democratic Party is struggling to defend a strategy that hurt the very Americans they claim to champion. From unpaid military members on Veterans Day to halted SNAP benefits and nationwide air travel disruptions, the shutdown created real consequences. Yet after forty days of chaos, the only tangible concession Democrats walked away with was the rehiring of employees they themselves pushed out. We explore why blaming Trump has become their last remaining political lifeline—and what that reveals about the party’s internal failures.Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know. Governor Jeff Landry says all of the SNAP benefits will be refunded to the state by the end of the month.Two illegal immigrants in St Tammany parish have been arrested for prostitution.Hope Clinic, the last abortion clinic in Shreveport, has been torn down.Get Performlyte from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20.We dive into the unexpectedly wild world of college football speculation—because according to the odds makers at BetOnline, Nick Saban is suddenly the favorite to become the next head coach at LSU. Yes, that Nick Saban. The retired legend. The man who has said—repeatedly, but not always consistently—that he’s done with coaching. We unpack why the betting markets have rocketed him from a distant 75–1 long shot to a striking 2–1 favorite, and why this says more about storytelling, nostalgia, and human psychology than it does about football. Is Saban actually considering a comeback, or did he simply have one reflective moment while Swiffering the downstairs? And more importantly—why are fans and bookmakers so eager to believe in a miracle return?We’re breaking down the unfolding fiscal drama in New Orleans—one that reads less like routine city budgeting and more like a decades-long case study in mismanagement. Using the city’s newest $125 million emergency loan request as our starting point, we explore how a place known for its culture, charm, and resilience has also perfected the habit of governmental dysfunction. From chronic deficits to unpaid trash bills, New Orleans now faces a projected $160 million shortfall next year—yet the alarms that should’ve sounded decades ago are only now being acknowledged. As we discuss, mismanagement is never a mystery; it’s a habit formed by what leaders tolerate, incentivize, and ignore. And in a city governed by the same political machinery since Reconstruction, the pattern is as predictable as it is damaging.We Dig Deep into a new report from the Louisiana Department of Education: early-grade reading proficiency in Louisiana is on the rise. According to the latest beginning-of-year literacy screeners, 50% of K–3 students are now reading at a proficient level, a three-point climb from last year. And when you look only at grades 1–3—students who’ve already had at least one year of formal instruction—that number jumps to 56%. We unpack why this matters so profoundly. Because reading isn’t just another academic benchmark; it’s the hinge on which a child’s entire trajectory turns. Louisiana’s recent progress isn’t accidental—it’s the result of deliberate, evidence-based policy. We discuss how State Superintendent Cade Brumley’s push for the science of reading has transformed classrooms statewide, replacing memorization with real decoding skills and structured literacy instruction. Get Prodovite Plus from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20.We take a step back from the headlines and talk about something far more foundational—something that shaped Washington, Lincoln, Reagan, and yes, even Donald Trump: reading. It isn’t just a habit of great leaders—it’s a prerequisite for a healthy, self-governing society. Drawing on the founders’ deep intellectual roots and modern examples from CEOs to presidents, we discuss how books have shaped decision-makers for centuries. And yet today, in an era of one-minute videos and endless dopamine scrolls, we’ve lost something. We’ve traded libraries for TikTok reels, and deep thought for instant reaction. Restoring the value of reading may be one of the most powerful steps toward stronger communities and a more capable next generation.And we end today’s episode with a hard truth weighing heavily on communities across Louisiana and beyond: when politics fixate on division—pitting race against race or vilifying those who create jobs and opportunity—everyone loses. We explore the real cost of driving away producers, entrepreneurs, and working families, including the staggering $26.7 billion in income Louisiana lost during the John Bel Edwards years as residents fled the state. We need a shift from the politics of resentment to the politics of productivity—a mindset that values contribution, opportunity, and growth over blame. Because when those who build, innovate, and invest decide to leave, they take their economic impact with them—and rebuilding that loss is far harder than scoring political pointsFollow us: americangroundradio.comFacebook: facebook.com / AmericanGroundRadioInstagram: instagram.com/americangroundradio