The purpose of swimming is to travel safely through water; the purpose of reading is to construct meaning. Both skills require perseverance from the student and patience from the teacher. Not having the necessary swimming skills may result in tragic consequences. Not having the ability to read and understand text--although probably not fatal--will most certainly have a negative effect on a person's self-esteem, career options, and overall quality of life. Teachers and administrators cannot leave any student unassisted until they are confident that the student is ready to read successfully without assistance. They must continue to adjust and respond to students' needs. If that means teaching and supporting reading in all content areas throughout the K-12 experience, then that is exactly what it means. Teachers and administrators know what needs to be done, and they know how to do it. (Contains 1 figure.)