Concordia Parish students are reading at a level higher than the state average, a solid achievement for the parish.

But Superintendent Kerry Laster said she wants to continue to improve students’ reading skills.

So, in addition to the work the school district is already doing, she has suggested that parents read to their children for 30 minutes every day.

It’s such a simple idea: Turn off the TV, put away the video games and pick up a book.

Research shows, Laster said, that young children who are read to a minimum of 30 minutes a day will improve their academic achievement and their test scores.

A nightly reading time &045;&045; whether it’s one-on-one at bedtime with a favorite book or even in the living room after dinner with the whole family &045;&045; can be a great bonding experience for parents and children as well as an academic boost.

The more high-tech we become, the more strategies teachers have to help children learn. Handheld games, elaborate calculators and computer programs are bringing innovative techniques to teachers and parents.

But the low-tech bedtime story trumps them all in terms of real communication between parents and children.

Try reading Harry Potter with the whole family for several days or weeks; introduce young children to &uot;Flat Stanley&uot;; revisit the &uot;Little House&uot; series.

We applaud the Concordia Parish School District for continuing its pledge to keep parents involved in their children’s education, whether it’s explaining the reasons for extended-day tutoring or encouraging parents to read to their children.