Too many tweens and teens can't read the textbook

Louisiana's fourth-graders are the second-most-improved readers in the nation, rising from No. 50 in 2019 to No. 16 in 2025, reports Lauren Coffey on EdSurge. But nearly all the gains disappear by eighth grade.

In recent years, many states have moved to adopt research-backed reading instruction in the early grades, Coffey writes. Early adopters, such as Mississippi and Louisiana have made significant progress. But there's been little focus on older students' reading comprehension.

Nationwide, only 30 percent of eighth-graders and 31 percent of fourth-graders are "proficient" readers, according to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress results, she notes. That's changed very little since 1992.

In an EdWeek poll, a majority of middle- and high-school teachers said a quarter or more of their students had difficulty with basic reading skills, Coffey writes. "More than 20 percent said half to three-quarters of their students struggle."

It shows up in every class. Students have trouble reading science or social studies books with multisyllabic words and complex sentences.

Some students are pulled out of class to work with a specialist, says Kevin Smith, co-founder of the Adolescent Literacy Alliance. “We can’t intervene our way out of instruction,” he tells Coffey. “There’s not enough time in the world to get caught up if they’re not getting help throughout the day.” Teachers should be using evidence-based reading strategies in every class, not just in English Language Arts, he says. But many teachers haven't been trained to do that.

Few parents realize their children are struggling with reading: 88 percent of parents believe their child is reading at grade level, according to a 2023 Gallup poll. The real number is 30 percent.

Years ago, when I was an op-ed columnist for the San Jose Mercury News, I was asked to judge essays written by women in a literacy program at the county jail. Several explained how they'd faked their way through school without reading. One woman had used elementary reading skills -- and a willingness to cheat -- to complete a college degree. This is not a new problem.