According to a recent Baltimore Sun article, on average Baltimore's poor African-American students are reading as well as their peers.

It is not just reading that is tested, but reading comprehension. The results of a national assessment of reading show that the city still faces challenges in improving its schools. The majority of 4th and 8th-graders didn't pass the National Assessment of Educational Progress -- a test of reading and reading comprehension.

What do the experts say:

• Baltimore City Schools CEO Andres Alonso said "We are primed to take the next leap into a story which is increasingly about excellence rather than a story about chasing 'good enough.'"
• Baltimore's new chief academic officer, Sonja Brookins Santelises said "the city has a sound foundation in teaching reading, but now it must concentrate on taking students from learning to sound out and read words to understanding the complexities of what they read."
• Michael Casserly, executive director of the Council of Great City Schools, said Baltimore's results surprised him because they were better than expected. "Given the challenges that Baltimore has, I thought their reading, like their math, was surprisingly good and formed a solid foundation," he said. "It told me something real and substantial has been going on there recently."

Results of the test (National Assessment of Educational Progress) showed:

• 42 percent of the city's 4th graders are reading at a basic, proficient or advanced level, compared to 65 percent across the nation.
• In 8th grade, 54 percent of students were at basic or above. Nationally--73 percent.
• Only 2 percent of the city's 4th graders were considered advanced readers and none of its 8th graders were.
• Baltimore scored below the average for other cities, but still scored higher than a few cities with large poor and minority populations.

Reading Resources for Parents of Tweens in Baltimore

Book Hive for tweens -- book lists for tweens

Listing of Books Series and Sequels -- over 29,000 books

Book suggestions for kids K-7th grade

Reading program by Sylvan Learning Centers

Barnes & Noble Reading Program discount -- 5% off order