A growing number of U.S. students and adults are struggling with literacy, creating long-term challenges for individuals and society. Falling behind in reading early in life makes catching up harder, leading to a multi-generational literacy gap that demands urgent action.
Recent data shows that 28% of U.S. adults rank at the lowest literacy levels, up from 19% in 2017. In addition, over 20% of fifth to seventh graders struggle with recognizing or sounding out words. Meanwhile, experts stress the need to master reading skills by third grade, as issues become harder to address later.
Sarah Cacicio, an expert in adult literacy, notes that when parents or caregivers struggle with reading, their children are more likely to face similar challenges. To address this, many states are adopting science-backed reading methods to help young students achieve proficiency before third grade. However, once children fall behind, teachers in higher grades often lack the specialized training to support foundational reading development.
Miah Daughtery, vice president of content advocacy at NWEA, explains that most English teachers are trained for broader humanities, not basic reading instruction, leaving older struggling readers without adequate support. However, Daughtery remains optimistic, stating, “The brain is such a phenomenal organ you can really learn how to read, for most people, throughout the course of your life.”
Closing the literacy gap requires early intervention for children and support for adults. Collaboration among educators, families, and policymakers is key to breaking the cycle and empowering individuals while strengthening society.
Picture: Children and adults are struggling with reading (Designer)
