Strinden Reads to Fargo Children at Library

North Dakota's lieutenant governor visited the Fargo Public Library's story time to promote child literacy.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Primary Education

Photograph of a cozy wooden reading nook with a cushioned bench, patterned rug, and stacked picture books beside a tall window in a library. — North Dakota Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden read to children at the Fargo Public Library's story time on Nov. 2, promoting early literacy amid declining national reading scores. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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North Dakota Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden served as a guest reader at the Fargo Public Library's story time on Nov. 2. Her visit highlighted the state's focus on early childhood reading.

Why it matters

National reading levels for high school seniors reached their lowest point this century last year, and national test scores have declined in recent years. Administrators and principals report that many kindergartners are often not prepared for kindergarten, making early literacy a pressing concern for Fargo families and schools.

The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction reports that state test scores are up, while national high school senior reading levels fell to a century low last year. The extraction does not provide exact score figures or the magnitude of the state improvement.

The players

Michelle Strinden

Michelle Strinden is the lieutenant governor of North Dakota and a longtime advocate for child literacy who has worked with the state's Children's Cabinet.

The details

Strinden read to children during story time at the Fargo Public Library and discussed child literacy and kindergarten readiness across North Dakota. She has worked with the state's Children's Cabinet, a program started in 2019 to draft legislation aimed at improving test scores.

2019: The state's Children's Cabinet program began, created to draft legislation to improve test scores.
Last year: National high school senior reading levels hit their lowest point this century.
Nov. 2: Strinden guest-read at the Fargo Public Library's story time.

Roadmap

The Children's Cabinet, launched in North Dakota in 2019 to draft legislation on test scores, frames this visit as part of an ongoing state push. The reading event extends that effort from the statehouse into everyday community spaces like the Fargo Public Library.

Fargo families with young children can take part in library story time programs that support early reading skills. Parents of future kindergartners may find these sessions a practical way to build literacy before school begins.

The takeaway

Regular reading with young children at home or through library story time is a practical step toward kindergarten readiness. Families in Fargo can build these habits using local library programs.