Key points:
The United States is arguably in the midst of its most profound change in the way children learn to read.
Since 2013, according to an analysisPolicymakers in 37 states have passed laws or implemented new policies related to reading instruction, and stakeholders from academics and journalists to teachers and parent coalitions have weighed in.
This intense focus on early literacy is significant and makes a difference in student achievement in states like Mississippi, but we maintain that it may be too limited.
From the point of view of educational organizations like the National Center for Family Learning and the Southern Regional Education Board, early reading is just one piece of a much larger literacy puzzle, a puzzle we must solve as a nation. Learning to read is a lifelong process and our efforts must aim to improve standards and outcomes at all stages of life, taking a longitudinal perspective.
Our society cannot wait for this year's fourth graders, who are benefiting from recent changes in the way we teach reading, to grow up and enter the workforce in 2032. We must act to ensure that children , youth and adults receive the literacy education they need. allows middle-skill workers (those who need more than a high school diploma but less than a college degree) to succeed. Doing so ensures that all workers have the skills to support their families and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Research shows that about 43 million Americans (nearly one in five adults) read below the third-grade reading level. Additionally, less than 10 percent of all adults who need literacy support currently receive educational services, according to a 2023 report by the Adult Literacy and Learning Impact Network of which NCFL is a member.
Meanwhile, a study 2020 found a significant connection between average annual income and average reading levels. According to the study, the average income of adults reading at a level equivalent to a sixth-grade level is $63,000. In contrast, the study found that adults who read between third and fifth grade earn an average of $48,000 and those with the lowest levels of literacy earn just $34,000 on average.
To sustain and increase economic growth, we need improvements in literacy across the age spectrum, from preschool to adulthood. Only with a comprehensive multigenerational approach to literacy learning will this country see the greatest economic benefits both at the micro level, in terms of individual income, and at the macro level, where an increase in skilled human capital can drive growth at the national level.
early childhood
Investing in early childhood education shows an average return over time of $4 for every dollar spent, thanks in part to reducing special education needs and increasing family productivity, according to multiple studies summarized by he Buffet Early Childhood Institute.
To support building family relationships and child development through play-based learning, NCFL created Play with Purpose, a facilitated play group designed for children ages birth to five and their caregivers. Children and adults learn together alongside other families during weekly sessions and receive supplementary books and materials to help ensure learning continues between sessions. Participating families can set and achieve goals around their children's development and see an increase in their social and emotional skills and language acquisition, both of which support emerging literacy.
middle and high school
He Most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress found that 30 percent of eighth- and twelfth-grade students could not meet basic reading standards, such as determining the meaning of familiar words or identifying explicit details from a text. NAEP Long-Term Trend Data They also show that the average scores of 13-year-old students in 2022 decreased 4 points in reading from the previous assessment report in 2020.
To counter this trend, SREB developed the Literacy Ready curriculum and trains teachers on best practices to help students read and understand complex texts in different subject areas. A preliminary study of the program in three states in the late 2010s found that students showed significant improvement on the ACT English and reading tests, with average score increases of 1.3 points and 1.5 points, respectively.
Post-secondary, occupational and adult education
As our nation continues to automate entry-level jobs in retail and manufacturing, we are seeing an increase in mid-skill jobs. These workers will need greater literacy skills to train for more advanced positions and read instructions and guides for the technology they will handle.
Learning to read is a lifelong activity that pays dividends for children, youth, adults and our communities. That's why NCFL developed the four-component family literacy model, which reaches families where they are to support adults in achieving their educational and career goals, provide educational programming to children, and bring both generations together to joint learning activities. In A study From the model in action, more than 90 percent of parents made progress toward their adult education or employment goals.
Now, more than ever, it is essential that we recognize the vital role that literacy plays at every stage of life. Together, we can do more than improve fourth grade reading scores; We can commit to focusing on literacy gains longitudinally, from young children to adults retraining for new careers, as an investment in the workforce of tomorrow.
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