Beauprez’s big idea on education? Been there.

What do Dolly Parton, thirdgrade reading and the race for the Colorado governor’s office have in common? Strangely, quite a bit. Republican candidate for governor Bob Beauprez recently sat down with The Denver Post’s editorial board to discuss his plans for office, including his education platform.

Beauprez, a former congressman, said he wants to “turn the education thing on its head” and will pay particular attention to improving third-grade reading scores. This is not a new endeavor. Governors, lawmakers and educators have been working on this problem for decades. Third-grade literacy is particularly important because it represents a pivotal time in a child’s academic career. Prior to third grade, students are learning to read. After third grade, they are reading to learn.

A study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that children who do not read proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to leave school without getting their diplomas when compared to proficient readers.

Colorado has placed much weight on resolving the third-grade problem, passing a law in the mid-1990s, the Colorado Basic Literacy Act, to ensure “all students by the third grade have the literacy skills essential for success in school and life.” State assessment scores were released early for just third-grade reading to help educators address problems. Yet, there never was much progress. In 2004, 74 percent of Colorado’s thirdgraders were proficient and advanced in reading on the state assessment. In 2014, 72 percent were proficient and advanced.

“Thirty percent of Colorado third-graders who can’t read at grade level is absolutely painful,” Beauprez said. “We will make that a priority. We will move the needle and solve the problem.”

According to his campaign’s thirdgrade literacy policy paper, “Encouraging parents to read to their children will be Bob’s No. 1 priority to improve early childhood reading.”

Beauprez’s wife, Claudia, will form a “privately funded foundation called PREP (Parents Reading and Educating Preschoolers) that will provide a new book every month to every child in Colorado