Early Reading Takes Center Stage in Fargo
Parents of young children in Fargo are seeing a state push to strengthen literacy before kindergarten begins.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Primary Education
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North Dakota Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden read to children at the Fargo Public Library's story time on Nov. 2, while discussing child literacy and kindergarten readiness across the state.
Why it matters
Administrators and principals report that kindergartners are often not prepared for kindergarten, making early literacy a practical concern for Fargo families. The visit comes as national reading levels for high school seniors hit their lowest level this century last year.
The event took place at the Fargo Public Library on Nov. 2 during a guest-read story time. The Children's Cabinet program, which started in 2019, was created to draft legislation aimed at improving test scores in North Dakota.
The players
Michelle Strinden
North Dakota's Lieutenant Governor, who champions child literacy and has worked with the state's Children's Cabinet.
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
The state agency that oversees public K-12 education and reports on student test performance in North Dakota.
The details
Strinden served as a guest reader at the Fargo Public Library's story time, reading aloud to young children. She has worked with the state's Children's Cabinet, a program launched in 2019 to draft legislation that would improve test scores. Strinden considers improving child literacy a personal passion, and she spoke about readiness for kindergarten during the visit.
Timeline
2019: The state's Children's Cabinet program started.
Last year: National reading levels for high school seniors hit their lowest level this century.
Nov. 2: Strinden guest-read at the Fargo Public Library story time.
The Home Front
The state's reading push sits within a broader national decline in reading performance that has drawn attention to early education. For families weighing kindergarten readiness, the trend underscores how much early literacy shapes later school outcomes.
If you have a young child approaching kindergarten, consider visiting your local library for story time and reading together at home. Ask your child's school what kindergarten readiness looks like so you can plan for early literacy practice.
The takeaway
Early reading habits matter for kindergarten readiness, and free library story times are an accessible place to start. Make a regular reading routine part of your family schedule and ask your child's teacher where your child stands.
Further reading
For more on how early reading shapes school success, explore Primary Education coverage across our Fargo education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by INFORUM.
Live Poll
Do you think kindergartners in your area are arriving prepared to learn?
